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Articulatory abnormalities in athetoid cerebral palsy
The Journal of Speech and Hearing Disorders
|August 1, 1978
Summary
This study analyzed speech articulation in individuals with athetoid cerebral palsy, revealing significant articulatory abnormalities impacting speech clarity. Key findings include abnormal jaw and tongue movements, and velopharyngeal dysfunction affecting speech motor learning.
Area of Science:
- Speech-language pathology
- Neurology
- Motor control
Background:
- Athetoid cerebral palsy (CP) often presents with motor control deficits affecting speech production.
- Understanding articulatory abnormalities is crucial for developing effective speech interventions.
Observation:
- Cinefluorographic data analyzed vocal tract articulation in five subjects with athetoid CP.
- Articulatory events were tracked using vocal tract shape tracings and displacement-by-time plots.
Findings:
- Frequent abnormalities included excessive jaw movement and abnormal tongue positioning due to reduced anteroposterior movement.
- Intermittent velopharyngeal closure, prolonged articulatory transition times, and lower lip retrusion were also observed.
- These findings highlight significant deviations from typical speech motor patterns.
Implications:
- The observed articulatory deficits provide insights into the speech disorder associated with athetosis.
- Findings can inform models of motor learning and guide therapeutic strategies for individuals with athetoid CP.
- Further research can explore targeted interventions for specific articulatory challenges.