Breathing-impaired speech after brain haemorrhage: a case study

Results are presented from an auditory and acoustic analysis of the speech of an adult male with impaired prosody and articulation due to brain haemorrhage. They show marked effects on phonation, speech rate and articulator velocity, and a speech rhythm disrupted by "intrusive" stresses. These effects are discussed in relation to the speaker's very short breath-groups and consequent need to take breath within intonation-groups and even within rhythm-groups. The speaker appears to have various strategies for dealing with his speech problems to preserve the structural cohesion of his utterances, some seemingly more successful than others, including planning his frequent breath pauses, using falsetto phonation, control of pitch and inspiring air orally for rapid intake. Finally, it is suggested that these and other strategies designed to compensate for limitations and shortcomings in the speech production system should be recognized as a form of linguistic creativity.