[Cerebellar dysarthria--a review of the literature]

This review summarizes and discusses the literature on speech deficits in cerebellar diseases and on the topography of cerebellar dysarthria. Clinical descriptions of dysarthric features in cerebellar diseases, parametric investigations of ataxic dysarthria, and experimental studies in animals concerning the effects of lesions on vocalization and the representation of sensorimotor orofacial functions in the cerebellum are considered. Signs of cerebellar dysarthria include a slowing down of articulatory movements, increased variability of pitch and loudness, monotonous and "scanning" speech, and articulatory impreciseness. The available data indicate that the paramedian regions of the superior cerebellar hemispheres are relevant for the development of cerebellar dysarthria.