Flaccid Dysarthria Flashcards
Main problem?
Problem with motor execution
Locus of lesion
Anywhere between the brainstem or spinal cord and the muscles of speech
Neuromuscular basis
Weakness and reduced muscle tone
Cranial Nerves involved
CN V (Trigeminal)
CN VII (Facial)
**CN IX (Glossopharyngeal)
CN X (Vagus)
**CN XI (Accessory)
CN XII (Hypoglossal)
** - Marked as support for CN X
Clinical characteristics of flaccid dysarthria
- Weakness (paralysis or paresis)
- Hypotonia (reduced muscle tone)
- Reduced reflexes (reduced muscle contraction in response to stretch)
- Atrophy (loss of muscle bulk)
- Fasciculations (Muscle twitches that are visible, arrhythmic and isolated)
Effect on speech from CN V (Trigeminal) damage
Effect: Articulation and prosody
Dx Tasks: Reading, conversation, AMRs
Bilateral Damage to the Trigeminal Nerve results in
slow speech and imprecise C/V
Unilateral Damage to the trigeminal nerve results in
No significant effects
Effect on speech from CN VII (Facial) damage
Effect: Articulation and prosody
Dx Tasks: reading, conversation, AMRs, stress testing
Bilateral damage to the facial nerve results in…
- inability to produce labial consonants OR are otherwise distorted
- vowels are distorted because the patient may have trouble with lip movement
- Reduced syllables per breath group
- Cheek flutter
- Slow rate
Unilateral damage to the facial nerve results in…
labial consonants are mildly distorted
Effects on speech from CN X (vagus) nerve damage
Effects: phonation, resonance, articulation, prosody
Dx Tasks: Reading conversation, AMRs, vowel prolongation, pitch glides
Bilateral damage of the vagus nerve may result in…
inhalatory stridor/audible inhalation
Damage to the PHARYNGEAL branch of CN X results in
- Hypernasality
- Nasal Emission
- Imprecise consonants
- Short phrases
Damage to the SUPERIOR LARYNGEAL BRANCH of the CN X results in
- Breathiness, aphonia
- Hoarseness
- Reduced pitch altering
- Reduced loudness
- Vocal Flutter
