Dysarthria

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

Listeners' preference for computer-synthesized speech over natural speech of people with disabilities.

Abstract: Purpose/Objective: There are few controlled experimental studies that examine reactions to people with speech disabilities. We conducted 2 studies designed to examine participants’ reactions to persuasive appeals delivered by people with physical disabilities and mild to moderate dysarthria. Research Method/Design: Research participants watched video clips delivered by actors with bona fide disabilities and subsequently rated the argument, message, and the speaker. The first study (n 165) employed a between-groups design that examined reactions to natural dysarthric speech, synthetic speech as entered into a keyboard by hand, and synthetic speech as entered into a keyboard with a headwand. The second study (n 27) employed a within-groups design that examined how participants reacted to natural dysarthric speech versus synthetic speech as entered into a keyboard by hand. Results: Both of these studies provide evidence that people rated the argument, message, and speaker more favorably when people with disabilities used synthetic speech than when they spoke in their natural voice. Conclusions/ Implications: The implications are that although people react negatively to computer-synthesized speech, they prefer it to and find it more persuasive than the speech of people with disabilities. This appears to be the case even if the speech is only moderately impaired and is as intelligible as the synthetic speech. Hence, the decision to use synthetic speech versus natural speech can be further complicated by an understanding that even the intelligible speech of people with disabilities leads to more negative reactions than synthetic speech.

[A case of thalamic germinoma with crossed aphasia in a dextral (author's transl)].

Abstract: We present a rare case of thalamic germinoma with crossed aphasia in a dextral. A patient, 17-year-old righat-handed male, was admitted to Nippon Medical School Hospital with chief complaints of headache, abnormality of visual field and speech disturbance. There were pigmentations on the back of hand, foot and the perineum. Neurological examination revealed left homonymous hemianopsia, right slight degree of ptosis, left facial palsy, a mild paresis of the left upper extremity and motor aphasia. Right carotid angiography showed marked unrolling and midline shift of right anterior cerebral artery. CT scan revealed ring-like high density area in the right thalamic region, which was enhanced after constant infusion. Brain scintigraphy also showed an abnormal accumulation at the same site. The hen-egg sized tumor of 40 g. weight was almost totally removed by the right fronto-parietal craniotomy. The tumor was characterized histologically by the so-called two cell pattern with teratomatous components. As postoperative treatment local injection of adriamycine, irradiation and immunotherapy with picibanil were performed, and then left hemiparesis was markedly improved without sign of recurrence. Language evaluation was performed after operation. There were dysarthria, remarkable word amnesia, paraphasia and perseveration. Repetition was also impaired. His speech function was concluded to be a mixed type aphasia mainly composed of Broca's aphasia. The speech function of thalamus and crossed aphasia with dextrales were discussed.

Lacunar Infarctions and Dysarthria

Abstract: To the Editor. —Patients with extensive ischemic cortical strokes in the middle cerebral artery territory usually experience aphasia when the dominant cerebral hemisphere is lesioned, and dysarthria when the nondominant hemisphere is involved. 1 Lacunar infarctions are small, deep ischemic strokes (with an average lesional diameter of less than 20 mm). 2,3 In such cases, aphasia is unusual. Some patients with either right or left hemispheric lacunar infarctions present with dysarthria, but little is known about that symptom. 4 To study the location of the lesions responsible for dysarthria in lacunar infarctions and the associated neurologic symptomatology, we performed a clinical examination and computed tomography of the head in 227 consecutive patients with lacunar infarctions (125 pure motor hemiparesis; 42 pure sensory stroke; 34 sensorimotor stroke; 7 ataxic hemiparesis, 4 dysarthria-clumsy hand; and 15 atypical lacunar syndromes). Analysis of the results showed dysarthria in 24.5% of patients (56 cases). The mean

Speech training system based on resonant frequencies of vocal tract

Abstract: Speech sounds are air pressure vibrations produced by air exhaled from the lungs and modulated and shaped by the vibrations of the glottal cords and the vocal tract as it is pushed out through the lips and nose. Speech signals, in addition to communicating the linguistic information, convey a multitude of other information including gender, age, accent, intent, emotion, humor and the state of health of the speaker. There are several neurological (e.g., aphasia, dysarthria, and apraxia) or anatomical (e.g., cleft lip and palate) factors that could affect the intelligibility and audibility of the human speech. In this paper we present our work in developing a training system based on the resonant frequencies (widely known as formants) of the vocal tract to help a human subject with speech impairment train himself or herself to improve the intelligibility and audibility of his or her speech.

Guideline adherence in speech and language therapy in stroke aftercare. A health insurance claims data analysis

Abstract: Background Impairments to comprehension and production of speech (aphasia, dysarthria) and swallowing disorders (dysphagia) are common sequelae of stroke, reducing patients’ quality of life and social participation. Treatment oriented on evidence-based guidelines seems likely to improve outcomes. Currently, little is known about guideline adherence in stroke aftercare for the above-mentioned sequelae. This study aims to analyse guideline adherence in the treatment of aphasia, dysarthria and dysphagia after stroke, based on suitable test parameters, and to determine factors that influence the implementation of recommended therapies. Methods Six test parameters were defined, based on systematic study of guidelines for the treatment of speech impairments and swallowing disorders (e.g. comprehensive diagnostics, early initiation and continuity). Guideline adherence in treatment was tested using claims data from four statutory health insurance companies. Multivariate logistic and linear regression analyses were performed in order to test the outcomes. Results 4,486 stroke patients who were diagnosed with specific disorders or received speech therapy were included in the study. The median age was 78 years; the proportion of women was 55.9%. Within the first year after the stroke, 90.3% of patients were diagnosed with speech impairments and swallowing disorders. Overall, 44.1% of patients received outpatient speech and language therapy aftercare. Women were less frequently diagnosed with specific disorders (OR 0.70 [95%CI:0.55/0.88], p = 0.003) and less frequently received longer therapy sessions (OR 0.64 [95%CI:0.43/0.94], p = 0.022). Older age and longer hospitalization duration increased the likelihood of guideline recommendations being implemented and of earlier initiation of stroke aftercare measures. Conclusions Our observations indicate deficits in the implementation of guideline recommendations in stroke aftercare. At the same time, they underscore the need for regular monitoring of implementation measures in stroke aftercare to address group-based disparities in care.