Oral-Motor Complexity Influences Center of Pressure Patterns in Adults with Stroke-Related Communication Disorders

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biomechanics
• Speech-Language Pathology

Background:

• People with stroke (PwS) often have impaired postural control, increasing fall risk.
• Stroke-related communication disorders are an underrecognized factor potentially exacerbating fall risk.
• Postural control may be affected by the demands of speech production, particularly oral-motor complexity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how varying oral-motor complexity during speech tasks affects postural control in PwS.
• To compare postural control between PwS with communication disorders (PwS-CDis) and PwS without communication disorders (PwS).
• To identify potential links between communication impairments, postural control, and fall risk after stroke.

Main Methods:

• Three groups (PwS, PwS-CDis, Controls) stood on a force platform.
• Participants completed quiet stance trials and trials involving speech tasks of increasing oral-motor complexity ('ba', 'puh tuh kuh', 'rah shah lah nah').
• Center of pressure (COP) variability and nonlinear time-dependent metrics were analyzed.

Main Results:

• COP variability increased significantly during speech tasks compared to quiet stance across all groups.
• Nonlinear time-dependent metrics differed across oral-motor task conditions, especially in PwS-CDis.
• Distinct temporal-dynamical patterns in PwS-CDis suggest oral-motor complexity influences postural-motor organization.

Conclusions:

• Oral-motor complexity significantly impacts postural control in people with stroke.
• Individuals with stroke and communication disorders exhibit unique postural responses to speech tasks.
• These findings highlight the importance of considering speech motor demands when assessing fall risk in PwS with communication disorders.