The Dysarthrias

Question 1

What characteristics are shared between all types of dysarthria

Answer 1

impaired muscular control of the speech mechanism

PNS or CNS pathology

Question 2

What creates the differences in the nature of dysarthria

Answer 2

the nature and the loci of the pathology

Question 3

Name the neurological diseases that are associated with Dysarthria

Answer 3

Prakinson's 
Wilson's 
progressive supranuclear palsy, 
dystonia
Huntingtons Disease
ALS
MS
Mysthenia Gravis

Question 4

What non-progressive neurological conditions can cause Dysarthria

Answer 4

Stroke
Infections
TBI
surgical Trauma 
CP
toxic effects of drugs and alcohol

Question 5

Common Sites of Lesion include:

Answer 5

Lower Motor Neuron, unilateral or bilateral Upper motor neurons, cerebellum, and basal ganglia (extrapyramidal system)

Question 6

Ataxic Dysarthria results from damage to the

Answer 6

cerebellum

Question 7

Major Characteristics of Ataxic Dysarthria Include:

Answer 7

• gait disturbances
• movement disorders: over or undershooting targets, jerky movements
• articulation disorders: imprecise production of consonants
• prosody disorders
• phonatory disorders - monopitch, monoloudness, and harshness
• drunken like speech quality

Question 8

Flaccid Dysarthria is a result of

Answer 8

damage to the motor units of cranial or spinal nerves that supply speech muscles

Question 9

Neuropathology that causes Flaccid Dysarthria Includes

Answer 9

Mysasthenia Gravis
Botulism 
vascular diseases 
brainstem stroke 
infections
Gullian Barre
ALS

Question 10

Specific Cranial Nerves that may be involved in Flaccid Dysarthria Include

Answer 10

Trigeminal V
Facial VII
Glossopharyngeal IV
Vagus X
Hypoglossal XII

Question 11

major characteristics of Flaccid Dysarthria Include

Answer 11

• Muscular Disorders: Atrophy, Weakness, Hypotonia, and Diminished Reflexes.
• Fasciculations and Fibrillation
• rapid and progressive muscle weakness with the use of a muscle and recovery with rest
• respiratory weakness in combination with cranial nerve weakness
• Phonatory Disorders: breathy voice, audible inspiration, short phrases.
• Resonance Disorders: hyper nasality, imprecise consonants, nasal emission and short phrases
• Phonatory-Prosodic Disorders: including harsh voice, monopitch and monoloudness
• Articulation Disorders are more pronounces with lesions in cranial nerve V, VII, VII

Question 12

Hyperkinetic Dysarthria occurs after damage to the

Answer 12

Basal Ganglia (extrapyramidal system)

Question 13

This Dysarthria is associated with involuntary movements, and variable muscle tone. Prosodic disturbances are dominant.

Answer 13

Hyperkinetic Dysarthria

Question 14

Causes of Hyperkinetic Dysarthria

Answer 14

degenerative, vascular, traumatic, infectious, neoplastic and metabolic factors may be involved.
Huntington Disease