Flaccid dysarthria results from damage to the lower motor neurons (LMN) or the peripheral nervous system (Hageman, 1997). Features of flaccid dysarthria typically reflect damage to the cranial nerves with speech motor functions (e.g., cranial nerves IX, X, XI, and XII) (Seikel, King, & Drumright, 2010). Lower motor neurons connect the central nervous system to muscle fibers; from the brainstem to cranial nerves with motor functions, or from the anterior horns of gray matter to spinal nerves (Murdoch, 1998). If there is damage to the spinal nerves and cranial nerves with speech motor functions, this indicates lower motor neuron damage and flaccid dysarthria. Damage to the lower motor neurons that power the speech muscles is also known as bulbar palsy (Pena-Brooks & Hedge, 2007). Potential etiologies of flaccid dysarthria include spinal cord injury, stroke, tumors, or head trauma (Pena-Brooks & Hedge, 2007). Possible congenital etiologies of flaccid dysarthria include Moebius syndrome and cerebral palsy. Flaccid dysarthria can also result from infections such as polio, shingles, and infections secondary to AIDS (Pena-Brooks & Hedge, 2007). Additionally, demyelinating diseases such as Guilian-Barré syndrome and myotonic muscular dystrophy can also lead to flaccid dysarthria (Pena-Brookes & Hedge, 2007). Lower motor neuron injury results in loss of voluntary muscle control and an inability to maintain muscle tone. Fasciculations, or contraction movements, can occur if the cell body is involved in the lesion (Seikel et al., 2010). The main speech characteristics of flaccid dysarthria include imprecise consonant production, hypernasal resonance, breathing, and harsh voice (...... middle of paper ......re (CPAP). Plastic surgery et reconstructive,88(6), 959-969.Liss, JM, Kuehn DP and Hinkle, KP (1994). Direct training of the velopharyngeal musculature. Miller R (2002) Glossopharyngeal breathing to improve functional vital capacity and speech production in a patient with flaccid dysarthria. Nelson Pena-Brooks, A., & Hegde, MN (2007). ).6. Assessment and treatment of articulation and phonological disorders in children (pp. 364-365). Austin, Texas: Pro-Ed. Seikel, JA, King, DW, & Drumright, DG (2010). . Anatomy and physiology of speech, language and hearing (4th ed., pp. 674-675)...