Why Suddenly Become Unable to Speak Clearly?

Human language function is managed by the central nervous system. Under normal conditions, adults speak with relative clarity. However, if symptoms of sudden unclear speech suddenly appear, it is essential to understand the specific reasons. Besides psychological factors such as excessive stress and severe emotional stimulation, it could also be related to certain diseases. Let's explore the causes and solutions for sudden unclear speech.

Abnormalities in the central nervous system responsible for language management, such as intellectual developmental disorders, cerebrovascular accidents (like stroke), and intracranial lesions, can cause unclear speech. These lesions are often accompanied by other corresponding symptoms. Considering the tissue organs involved in pronunciation, conditions like vocal cord edema, polyps causing hoarse voice, oral and pharyngeal masses, incomplete velopharyngeal closure, cleft palate, tongue diseases, abnormalities in the frenulum of the tongue and lips, and dental factors can all contribute to unclear speech.

After experiencing fever, cough, or diarrhea, elderly individuals may develop symptoms of unclear speech, which is often caused by insufficient blood supply to the cervical arteries due to degenerative changes leading to bone hyperplasia or other underlying diseases. These conditions can trigger a series of neurological problems resulting in unclear speech. Additionally, during fever, high temperatures can disrupt the endocrine system, potentially leading to imbalances in the neural regulation system and abnormal neural control, further contributing to unclear speech.

Parents should demonstrate and explain patiently, considering both the child's listening and visual abilities to facilitate imitation. Sometimes, appropriate explanations are necessary to complement the demonstration of mouth shapes.

Parents should encourage their children to pronounce correctly from the beginning of their language development and avoid allowing them to speak in a childish or unclear manner. Once this becomes a habit, it can be challenging to correct.

If parents notice that their child's speech is unclear, they can seek help from a professional speech therapist. Techniques like tongue manipulation therapy can be employed to address unclear speech issues.