Dysarthria Types and Mnemonics

Vocabulary practice cards covering mnemonics, speech characteristics, origins, and clinical associations for various types of dysarthria.

Flaccid mnemonic

"Floppy"

Spastic mnemonic

"Squeezed and Stiff"

Ataxic mnemonic

"Alcohol-like and Uncoordinated"

Hypokinetic mnemonic

"Low and Slow"

Hyperkinetic mnemonic

"Jerky and Excessive"

Mixed mnemonic

"Multiple Issues"

Unilateral Upper Motor Neuron mnemonic

"One Side Affected"

Flaccid Characteristics

Weak muscles, breathy voice, imprecise articulation

Spastic Characteristics

Strained voice, harsh articulation, slow speech

Ataxic Characteristics

Irregular speech rhythm, slurred words, tremor-like movements

Hypokinetic Characteristics

Monotone voice, reduced speech rate, difficulty initiating speech

Hyperkinetic Characteristics

Irregular speech rhythm, sudden changes in pitch and volume, involuntary facial movements

Mixed Characteristics

Combination of the characteristics from other dysarthrias

Unilateral Upper Motor Neuron Characteristics

Imprecise articulation, slow speech rate, and mild difficulty with prosody primarily affecting the side contralateral to the brain lesion

Flaccid Origin

Damage to Lower Motor Neurons

Spastic Origin

Bilateral damage to the upper motor neurons, Cerebral Palsy in kids

Ataxic Origin

Damage to Cerebel lum

Hypokinetic Origin

Basal Ganglia (Extrapyrimidal System)

Hyperkinetic Origin

Basal Ganglia (Extrapyrimidal System)

Mixed Associations

Ataxic-Spastic associated w/ Multiple Sclerosis; Flaccid-Spastic associated w/ ALS

Unilateral Upper Motor Neuron Origin

Stroke/Damage to upper motor neurons

Spastic UMN mnemonic

SPUD

Flaccid LMN mnemonic

FLIP