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Spinocerebellar ataxia: perceptual and acoustic analysis of speech in three cases
Simone dos Santos Barreto1, Joana Mantovani Nagaoka, Fernanda Chapchap Martins
1Universidade Federal de SãoPaulo, Fonoaudióloga da Prefeitura do Rio de Janeiro. simone_barret@hotmail.com
Background:
dysarthrias are commonly found in patients with spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA).
Aim:
to characterize perceptual and acoustic features of speech in three patients with spinocerebellar ataxia and to verify the presence of similar features among these patients.
Method:
speech samples of two males with SCA3 and one male with SCA2 were obtained. Both perceptual and acoustic analyses were done.
Results:
It was observed strain-strangled and breathiness phonation, vocal instability, increased noise-to-harmonics ratio and low alternate motion rate (AMR) and speech rate in all three patients. Deviated resonance and s/z ratio were also observed.
Conclusion:
phonatory disorders and altered temporal patterns of speech seem to be typical in dysarthric patients with spinocerebellar ataxia.
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