Juliet Reyes-
Define dysarthria and describe its underlying neurological causes. How does dysarthria impact speech production?
Dysarthria is a motor speech disorder caused by neurological damage that affects the muscles responsible for speech production. It impacts speech by disrupting the control and coordination of the articulatory, phonatory, resonatory, and respiratory subsystems.
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What are the primary subsystems of speech affected by dysarthria? Explain how disruptions in each subsystem contribute to the speech characteristics of different dysarthria types.
The primary subsystems of speech affected by dysarthria are articulation, phonation, resonance, and respiration. Disruptions in these subsystems lead to speech characteristics such as imprecise articulation, strained phonation, abnormal resonance, and altered breathing patterns.
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Differentiate between flaccid dysarthria and spastic dysarthria. What are the primary speech features associated with each type?
Flaccid dysarthria is characterized by weak and flabby muscles due to lower motor neuron damage. Speech features include breathiness, hypernasality, imprecise consonant production, and reduced loudness. Spastic dysarthria involves spasticity and reduced muscle movement due to upper motor neuron damage. Speech features include strained-strangled voice quality, slow rate, and reduced pitch and loudness variability.
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Explain the characteristics of ataxic dysarthria and how it is distinguishable from other types of dysarthria. What is the primary neurological basis of ataxic dysarthria?
Ataxic dysarthria is characterized by incoordination of speech muscles due to damage in the cerebellum. Speech features include irregular articulatory breakdowns, distorted vowels, excessive loudness variations, and irregular speech rate.
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Describe the speech characteristics of hypokinetic dysarthria and identify the neurological condition most commonly associated with this type.
Hypokinetic dysarthria is associated with Parkinson's disease and involves reduced muscle movement due to basal ganglia dysfunction. Speech features include reduced loudness, monopitch, rapid rate, imprecise articulation, and festinating speech.
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Discuss the primary speech features of hyperkinetic dysarthria, and provide examples of conditions that may result in this type of dysarthria.
Hyperkinetic dysarthria is characterized by involuntary movements and includes types like chorea, dystonia, and athetosis. Speech features vary but may include irregular articulatory breakdowns, distorted vowels, and strained-strangled voice quality.
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How does mixed dysarthria differ from other types of dysarthria? What combination of neurological factors leads to the development of mixed dysarthria?
Mixed dysarthria involves a combination of motor speech abnormalities from different neurological sources. The combination varies depending on the contributing factors.
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Explain the concept of unilateral upper motor neuron (UUMN) dysarthria. What neurological events contribute to the development of UUMN dysarthria, and how does it affect speech?
Unilateral Upper Motor Neuron (UUMN) dysarthria is caused by damage to one side of the upper motor neurons. It affects primarily the lower face and tongue, leading to imprecise articulation on the weaker side.
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Discuss the impact of fluctuating muscle tone on speech production in individuals with dysarthria. How does this contribute to speech sound errors and overall intelligibility?
Fluctuating muscle tone in individuals with dysarthria can lead to inconsistent speech sound production, variable speech rate, and unpredictable voice quality changes.
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How can an AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) system benefit individuals with severe dysarthria? What considerations should be made when selecting and implementing AAC for this population?
AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) systems can benefit individuals with severe dysarthria by providing an alternative means of communication when natural speech is challenging. High-tech AAC devices with synthesized speech output or low-tech options like communication boards can be used.
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Describe the role of intensive speech therapy in the management of dysarthria. What are the primary goals of intensive therapy, and how is it typically structured?
Intensive speech therapy aims to maximize speech intelligibility and communication effectiveness. Goals include improving articulation precision, rate control, voice quality, and overall speech clarity. Intensive therapy involves frequent, focused practice.
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Explain the concept of compensatory strategies for individuals with dysarthria. What types of compensatory techniques can be taught to improve speech intelligibility and communication effectiveness?
Compensatory strategies for dysarthria involve teaching individuals techniques to improve speech intelligibility, such as slowing down speech rate, using exaggerated articulation, and increasing breath support.
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How does breathing control impact speech production in individuals with dysarthria? What are the common breathing patterns associated with different types of dysarthria?
Breathing control affects speech production by providing the necessary airflow for vocalization. Dysarthria may lead to reduced breath support, impacting speech volume, pitch control, and overall speech rhythm.
