Abstract
The speech dysfunction of Parkinson's disease is complex and individually variable owing to the interaction of muscle rigidity, tremor and disturbance of movement. Eight speech dimensions which are characteristically disturbed in Parkinson's disease are discussed with reference to available research findings. In order to provide a more detailed description of the speech than could be obtained by clinical notes alone, a speech rating scale has been developed, and is presented in summarized form for clinical use. Incidence and progression of the speech dysfunction are considered in addition to the problems of assessment peculiar to the patient with Parkinson's disease.
Highlights
The speech dysfunction of Parkinson's disease is complex and individually variable owing to the interaction of muscle rigidity, tremor and disturbance of movement
Agt aspekte van spraak wat kenmerkend versteurd is in Parkinson se siekte word bespreek met verwysing na die bevindinge van navorsing. 'n Spraakgraderingskaal is ontwikkel om η meer volledige beskrywing van spraak te verkry as wat moontlik is met die gebruik van kliniese aantekeninge alleen en dit word opgesom vir kliniese gebruik
Of 134 Parkinson's patients assessed clinically at The Johannesburg General Hospital, 44 (32,8 %) were found to have some «lowine of speech rate whilst 42 (31,4 %) had an increase in their rate of speech The remaining 48 (35,8%) patients fell within normal limits
Summary
The speech dysfunction of Parkinson's disease is complex and individually variable owing to the interaction of muscle rigidity, tremor and disturbance of movement. Of 134 Parkinson's patients assessed clinically at The Johannesburg General Hospital, 44 (32,8 %) were found to have some «lowine of speech rate whilst 42 (31,4 %) had an increase in their rate of speech The remaining 48 (35,8%) patients fell within normal limits Both slowed and increased rates occur as a result of a complex interaction of the many defects of muscle contraction produced by the disease Each individual patient has a certain consistency in his overall rate of speech. A subjective impression of overall reduced intensity is generally accepted as one of the earliest signs of speech disturbance in the Parkinson's disease patient despite laboratory research by Canter3'4 indicating that there is no difference in average conversational intensity levels between Parkinson's patients and normals Whilst he supports the fact that th'e speech of a Parkinson's patient is frequently perceived clinically as having inadequate intensity, he suggests that there must be parameters of speech loudness other than average intensity level which lead to this perception.
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Schedule a callMore From: The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir Kommunikasieafwykings
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