Progressive speech deterioration and dysphagia in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: case report

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a degenerative neurologic disease having both upper and lower motor neuron signs and symptoms. When the speech musculature is involved, a mixed dysarthria and dysphagia usually result. In a 49-year-old man with ALS, dysarthria and dysphagia progressed from mild to severe forms over 17 months. Eleven months after the patient first experienced symptoms, neurologic examination showed fasciculations of the extremities and tongue, limb weakness, and hyperreflexia of the limbs and velopharyngeal mechanism. Tongue strength was one-fourth that of normal. Lingual alternate motions rates for consonant-vowel syllables were also reduced. To enhance lingual strength and swallowing, a tongue-strengthening program was developed for use with articulation training; to augment velopharyngeal function, a palatal lift was fitted; and to increase extremity strength, physical therapy was initiated. Six months after the initial neurologic examination, medical and speech reevaluation showed progressive weakness of the body parts affected initially; continued decline in tongue strength and lingual alternate motion rate; hypoactive reflex activity, indicative of progressive involvement of the lower motor neuron system; and continued deterioration of articulation and phonation owing to the progressive nature of the disease.