Dysarthria Types – Key Concepts

Thirty question-and-answer flashcards reviewing lesion sites, clinical signs, and hallmark speech characteristics of flaccid, spastic, ataxic, and unilateral upper motor neuron dysarthrias, plus key facts about bilateral corticobulbar damage and pseudobulbar palsy.

What speech feature is most characteristic of flaccid dysarthria?

Marked hypernasality caused by velopharyngeal weakness.

Damage to which neural pathway typically produces spastic dysarthria?

Bilateral upper motor neurons of the corticobulbar tract.

How does unilateral upper motor neuron (UUMN) dysarthria usually present?

Mild articulatory imprecision accompanied by facial (lower-face and tongue) weakness.

Which dysarthria is associated with hypotonia and fasciculations?

Flaccid dysarthria (reflecting lower motor-neuron damage).

What vocal quality most distinguishes spastic dysarthria?

A harsh, strained-strangled voice.

Which classic cerebellar sign is linked to ataxic dysarthria?

Dysmetria (inaccurate amplitude of movement).

Describe the typical speech pattern of ataxic dysarthria.

Slurred, scanning speech with irregular prosody and rhythm.

UUMN dysarthria is most often .

Transient and mild, frequently improving or resolving completely.

Which physical sign appears in flaccid but not spastic dysarthria?

Visible fasciculations of tongue or facial muscles.

What is the hallmark combination of features for spastic dysarthria?

Slow, effortful speech with a strained-strangled vocal quality.

Damage to the cerebellum produces which type of dysarthria?

Ataxic dysarthria.

Which cranial nerves are commonly implicated in flaccid dysarthria affecting speech?

CN IX, X, XI, and XII (glossopharyngeal, vagus, accessory, hypoglossal).

Spastic dysarthria frequently occurs in the early stages of which neurodegenerative disease?

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

UUMN dysarthria more commonly follows lesions in which cerebral hemisphere?

Left hemisphere (often co-occurs with aphasia).

What two speech characteristics are typical of flaccid dysarthria?

Nasal emission and breathy phonation due to laryngeal and velopharyngeal weakness.

Irregular articulatory breakdowns with excess loudness variation point to which dysarthria?

Ataxic dysarthria.

Emotional lability is a nonspeech feature most associated with which dysarthria?

Spastic dysarthria (pseudobulbar affect).

Bilateral UMN damage causes which type of dysarthria?

Spastic dysarthria.

Consistent but imprecise articulation is characteristic of which dysarthria?

Spastic dysarthria.

Which dysarthria is commonly described as sounding like "drunken" speech?

Ataxic dysarthria.

Reduced reflexes and hypotonia indicate what kind of motor lesion?

Lower motor neuron (LMN) lesion.

Jaw deviation and tongue weakness suggest which type of dysarthria?

Flaccid dysarthria (CN V or XII involvement).

Prosodic excess and irregular alternating motion rates are features of which dysarthria?

Ataxic dysarthria.

Poor coordination among respiratory, phonatory, and articulatory subsystems is most typical of which dysarthria?

Ataxic dysarthria.

Which dysarthria is usually temporary and often resolves spontaneously?

UUMN dysarthria.

What descending tract, when bilaterally damaged, leads to spastic dysarthria?

The corticobulbar tract.

What clinical syndrome from bilateral corticobulbar damage is often accompanied by spastic dysarthria?

Pseudobulbar palsy (with emotional lability).

List three hallmark speech characteristics of spastic dysarthria.

Slow/effortful speech, strained-strangled voice, and imprecise articulation.

If both corticobulbar tracts and cranial-nerve nuclei are injured by a brainstem stroke, what dysarthria results?

Mixed spastic–flaccid dysarthria.

Which stroke location, although less common, can produce spastic dysarthria by damaging both corticobulbar tracts?

Bilateral brainstem strokes above the level of the cranial-nerve nuclei.