Dysarthria

About: Dysarthria is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 2402 publications have been published within this topic receiving 56554 citations.

Understanding dysrhythmic speech: When rhythm does not matter and learning does not happen.

Abstract: A positive relationship between rhythm perception and improved understanding of a naturally dysrhythmic speech signal, ataxic dysarthria, has been previously reported [Borrie, Lansford, and Barrett. (2017). J. Speech Lang. Hear. Res. 60, 3110-3117]. The current follow-on investigation suggests that this relationship depends on the nature of the dysrhythmia. When the corrupted rhythm cues are relatively predictable, affording some learnable acoustic regularity, the relationship is replicated. However, this relationship is nonexistent, along with any intelligibility improvements, when the corrupted rhythm cues are unpredictable. Findings highlight a key role for rhythm perception and distributional regularities in adaptation to dysrhythmic speech.

Is 20 years too long?: improving intelligibility in long-standing dysarthria--a single case treatment study.

Abstract: Resource management decisions by most speech and language therapists would suggest that treatment for a dysarthric client of 20 years' duration should be a low priority. This study describes the therapy of a dystonic client who had been virtually speechless for 20 years because of his severe dysarthria. Assessment of his speech revealed that lip rounding was particularly difficult for him. He was offered eight sessions of general dysarthria therapy and eight sessions of therapy specifically designed to reduce lip tension. The hypotheses driving this therapy plan were that it would be possible to effect changes in his longstanding speech patterns and that therapy focused on reducing lip tension would be more effective than non-specific dysarthria therapy. An intelligibility test was designed to monitor any changes in his speech production. Therapy improved the client's intelligibility and increased his confidence and consequent functional use of speech.

Challenges in developing a voice input voice output communication aid for people with severe dysarthria

Abstract: This paper describes the development of a voice-input voice-output communication aid (VIVOCA) for people with disordered or unintelligible speech, initially concentrating on people with severe dysarthria The VIVOCA is intended to recognize and interpret an individual’s disordered speech and speak out an equivalent message in clear synthesized speech User consultation suggests that such a device would be acceptable and would be useful in communication situations where speed and intelligibility are crucial Speech recognition techniques build on previously successful development of speech-based home control interfaces, and various methods for speech ‘translation’ have been evaluated

Opercular syndrome: A case report and review.

Abstract: We present a 9-year-old boy with history of perinatal asphyxia and neonatal seizures; who presented with delayed development of speech, with predominant dysarthria, dysphagia, and drooling of saliva and unable to protrude tongue along with delayed motor and mental milestones. He had complex partial seizures since last 3 years requiring multiple anti-epileptic drugs. He had dysarthria, nasal twang, and drooling of saliva with difficulty in chewing and swallowing. Hearing and understanding were normal. Bilateral trigemino-facio-linguo-pharyngeal palsy was noticed on voluntary movements with normal jaw jerk with preserved automatic and emotional motor movements. Electroencephalography revealed focal left fronto-temporal epileptiform discharges and brain imaging was suggestive of bilateral cortical and subcortical region encephalomalacia, predominantly involving bilateral opercular region. The clinical and neuroimaging features correspond to bilateral opercular syndrome which could have resulted from the perinatal insult in this case.