Dysarthria 2 - comps study

Dysarthria Definition

Speech production disorder resulting from neuromotor damage. (Note: Motor impairment requires testing for dysphagia).

5 Components of Speech Production (Dworkin Hierarchy)

1. Respiration (framework), 2. Resonation, 3. Phonation, 4. Articulation, 5. Prosody.

Frenchay Dysarthria Assessment-2 (FDA-2)

A standardized assessment used to evaluate dysarthria across speech mechanisms and components.

Flaccid Dysarthria - Site of Lesion

Lower Motor Neuron (LMN).

Flaccid Dysarthria - Common Causes & Features

Common cause: TBI. Features: Muscle weakness, low tone, reduced/absent reflexes (swallow, gag, cough), high dysphagia risk.

Flaccid Dysarthria - Speech Characteristics

Hypernasality (most noticeable), nasal emission, breathy/hoarse voice (incomplete VF closure), reduced loudness, monopitch/monoloudness.

Flaccid Dysarthria - Key Treatment

Expiratory Muscle Strength Training (EMST) to improve respiratory muscle strength and vocal fold closure.

Spastic Dysarthria - Site of Lesion

Upper Motor Neuron (UMN) - Bilateral.

Spastic Dysarthria - Common Causes & Features

Common cause: Stroke. Features: Muscle stiffness, slowness, high muscle tone (spasticity), hyperactive reflexes.

Spastic Dysarthria - Speech Characteristics

Harsh, strained, tight, low pitch vocal quality; imprecise consonants; hypernasality; monopitch/monoloudness; slow rate.

Spastic Dysarthria - Key Treatment

Laryngeal Relaxation Exercises (to reduce laryngeal/neck tension).

Ataxic Dysarthria - Site of Lesion

Cerebellum.

Ataxic Dysarthria - Speech Characteristics

Incoordination, slurred articulation, equal and excess stress, prolonged phonemes/intervals, uncoordinated respiration.

Hypokinetic Dysarthria - Site of Lesion

Basal Ganglia.

Hypokinetic Dysarthria - Key Features & Causes

Common cause: Parkinsonism. Unique feature: ONLY dysarthria type with INCREASED rate of speech.

Hypokinetic Dysarthria - Speech Characteristics

Rapid speech rate, reduced range of motion, breathy voice, reduced loudness, monopitch/monoloudness, involuntary repetitions.

Hypokinetic Dysarthria - Key Treatment

Speak OUT! program.

Hyperkinetic Dysarthria - Site of Lesion

Basal Ganglia.

Hyperkinetic Dysarthria - Causes & Key Features

Causes: Chorea (Huntington's), tics, voice tremor. Feature: Excessive involuntary movements.

Hyperkinetic Dysarthria - Speech Characteristics

Inappropriate silences, shortened phrases, articulatory breakdowns, harsh/strained vocal quality, monopitch/monoloudness.

Unilateral UMN Dysarthria - Site of Lesion

Upper Motor Neuron (UMN) - Unilateral (one side of brain).

Unilateral UMN Dysarthria - Speech Characteristics

Contralateral lower facial droop/tongue weakness, imprecise consonants, slow/irregular DDK rates, harsh vocal quality.

Dysarthria Treatment Hierarchy Rule

Always treat the most severe component first, following the Dworkin framework order (Respiration -> Resonation -> Phonation -> Articulation -> Prosody).

Hyperfunctional vs. Hypofunctional Phonation Treatment

Hyperfunctional (Spastic): Laryngeal relaxation, confidential voice, vocal hygiene. Hypofunctional (Flaccid): EMST, Speak OUT!

Prosody Treatment Techniques

Signaling stress using loudness/pitch adjustments, putting stress on different words, and tapping for rate control.