Dysarthria (Adults)

Definition:

Dysarthria in adults is a collective term for motor speech disorders resulting from neurological impairments affecting the strength, speed, range, steadiness, tone, or accuracy of movements required for speech. It can impact respiration, phonation, articulation, resonance, and prosody.

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Types of Adult Dysarthria:

• Spastic: Characterized by strained voice quality and slow speech due to bilateral upper motor neuron lesions.
  
• Flaccid: Marked by breathy voice and hypernasality from lower motor neuron damage.
  
• Ataxic: Features irregular articulatory breakdowns and prosodic abnormalities due to cerebellar lesions.
  
• Hypokinetic: Associated with reduced loudness and monotony, commonly seen in Parkinson's disease.
  
• Hyperkinetic: Involves variable speech disruptions due to involuntary movements.
  
• Mixed: Combines characteristics of different types, often seen in conditions like ALS.
• Undetermined: Perceptual features are consistent with a dysarthria but do not clearly fit into any of the identified dysarthria types.

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Source:

Yorkston, K. M., Spencer, K., Duffy, J., Beukelman, D., Golper, L. A., & Miller, R. (2001). Evidence-based practice guidelines for dysarthria: Management of velopharyngeal function. Journal of Medical Speech-Language Pathology, 9(4), 257–274. (Evidence-Based Practice Guidelines for Dysarthria: Management of ...)