Slurred

Slurred is the past participle of slur and is used as an adjective to describe speech that sounds blurred, garbled, or difficult to understand. In everyday and clinical language, the phrase “slurred speech” denotes reduced clarity and precision of articulation, often with elongated vowels or merged consonants. Slurred speech can be transient or chronic, depending on the underlying cause.

Causes range from reversible conditions such as acute intoxication from alcohol or sedating drugs, fatigue, or sleep deprivation, to more serious neurologic or muscular disorders. Medical conditions associated with slurred speech include stroke and transient ischemic attack, Bell’s palsy, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and other forms of dysarthria or apraxia of speech. Local factors such as dental issues, mouth dryness, or facial trauma can also affect articulation.

Diagnosis and management involve clinical observation and neurologic assessment, with imaging studies when indicated. A speech-language pathologist may evaluate the type of speech impairment and plan therapy. Treatment targets the underlying cause: temporary slurring from intoxication resolves with time and avoidance of substances; stroke or neurodegenerative conditions require medical intervention and rehabilitation, including speech therapy to improve articulation and prosody, and safety measures if swallowing difficulties are present.

In other contexts, “slurred” may describe a speech quality produced by stress, fatigue, or intoxication, or refer to a slur, an insulting term used to disparage a group. The latter usage is distinct from medical descriptions of slurred speech and is discussed separately in linguistic and social discourse.