Yes, cerebral palsy can affect speech. People with cerebral palsy may have difficulty speaking clearly and articulating words, and may have difficulty controlling the muscles of the mouth and tongue needed for speech. This can lead to slurred speech, or a very quiet or weak voice.
Some people with cerebral palsy may find it difficult to control facial muscles, which can also affect speech. This can lead to altered facial expressions, or difficulty in producing facial expressions needed for certain sounds, making it hard to speak.
People with cerebral palsy may also have difficulty controlling the muscles of the throat, tongue, or lips, which can make it difficult to produce certain sounds, or even to swallow. This can lead to difficulty in producing certain words or sounds, or difficulty in forming words.
In some cases, people with cerebral palsy may have difficulty processing language, which can lead to difficulty in understanding and comprehending spoken language. This can lead to difficulty in speaking, as well as difficulty in understanding conversations.
Finally, people with cerebral palsy may find it difficult to produce speech in a clear and concise manner due to physical and cognitive impairments. This can lead to difficulty in forming sentences, or difficulty in understanding the meaning of words.
Overall, cerebral palsy can affect speech in many ways, from difficulty in articulating words to difficulty in understanding conversations. People with cerebral palsy who have difficulty speaking may benefit from speech therapy to improve their language skills.