Managing Post-Stroke Dysarthria in the Arabic-Speaking Population: A Survey of Clinical Practices Among Speech-Language Therapists

Dysarthria is a common motor speech disorder following stroke, affecting approximately 52% of stroke survivors. As dysarthria affects speech production, its impact varies across languages depending on each language’s unique features. Arabic is the fifth most widely spoken language worldwide. However, limited evidence exists regarding the clinical management of dysarthria in Arabic-speaking populations. This study aimed to identify the assessment and treatment practices used by speech-language therapists (SLTs) working with Arabic-speaking stroke survivors and to identify the ICF domains targeted in clinical management. A cross-country online survey was conducted using non-probability sampling. The survey collected information on clinician background, dysarthria screenings/assessments, and dysarthria treatments. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data. Seventy-two participants completed the demographic and assessment sections, while 55 participants completed the survey through the treatment section. Most respondents (57%) were based in Saudi Arabia, and the rest were from other Gulf and Western countries. Only one-third of respondents used formal assessments, often adapted for Arabic use. The remaining two-thirds used informal assessments. Respondents targeted impairment, activity, and participation domains in equal proportions during their assessment and treatment, demonstrating comprehensive application of the ICF framework. All respondents trained communication partners as part of their management plan, and nearly all (91%) supported patient-specific goals. Respondents emphasised the need for clinical resources based on normative data from Arabic-speaking individuals and culturally and linguistically appropriate tools. Findings suggest that developing Arabic-specific tools that account for its unique phonemic and morphological features is essential to support effective and equitable dysarthria management.