Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Practice Exam

What is a primary motor speech impairment?

1. Aphasia

2. Dysarthria

3. Confabulation

4. Anomia

The correct answer is: Dysarthria

Dysarthria is indeed classified as a primary motor speech impairment because it specifically involves difficulties in the control of the muscles responsible for speech production. This impairment can arise from neurological conditions or injuries that affect the brain's ability to send signals to these muscles. Individuals with dysarthria may experience slurred or slow speech, difficulty in articulating words clearly, and may struggle with the volume or rhythm of their speech patterns. Other options refer to different types of language or cognitive impairments. For instance, aphasia involves issues with language processing and understanding rather than the mechanical aspects of speech. Confabulation refers to fabricating stories or information unintentionally, typically related to memory impairments, and anomia is characterized by difficulty in naming objects, which is more about word retrieval than the physical act of speaking. Thus, dysarthria is specifically the one that aligns with motor speech difficulties.