14 Communication Tips to Manage Dysarthria

2. Don’t Finish Sentences Without Permission

The ability to finish sentences of a loved one may be taken as a sign of closeness, but if one of the people has dysarthria, it may not be so pleasant to the one who is trying to speak. Patience is important when communicating with people with dysarthria. By the same token, those with dysarthria should be patient with themselves.

If extra effort is needed to finish a sentence, it is often better than the person with dysarthria to finish the sentence for themselves rather than have others do it for them. If you are talking with someone with dysarthria, even if they are having clear difficulty and you feel sure about what they are going to say, avoid finishing their sentences unless they ask.

If a caretaker needs questions answered quickly, you may have to answer for them, but allow them to answer as many questions as possible themselves.