Dysarthria and Aphasia.

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Running Head: DYSARTHRIA AND APHASIA

Dysarthria and Aphasia

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Dysarthria and Aphasia

Dysarthria

Definition

Dysarthrias or commonly known as Dysarthria, refers to a group of speech problems where sounds may be slurred, and speech may be slow or effortful. Noticeable changes in pitch, volume, and tempo of speech occur. Speech can become nasal, and the voice can sound either breathy or harsh.

Dysarthria occurs in both children and adults. Yorkston, Strand, Miller, Hillel, and Smith (1993) found reduction in speaking rate to be the strongest predictor of decrease in speech intelligibility.

Etiology

Dysarthria is related to neuromuscular diseases such as cerebral palsy, Parkinson's, Lou Gehrig's disease, or later stages of multiple sclerosis. It can also occur from stroke, brain injury, and tumors. The exact speech problem that occurs depends on the part of the nervous system that is affected. Degenerative disease due to the effects of upper and lower motor neuron changes; the speech of individuals with ALS is classified as mixed (spastic and flaccid) dysarthria (Duffy, 1995).

A number of subsystems must work together, for speech