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Speaking rate and its components in dysarthric speakers

We studied speaking rate and its components in a total of 72 patients with a variety of dysarthria: six with the flaccid type; 16 with spastic type; 17 ataxic type; 8 hypokinetic type; 2 hyperkinetic type; 12 mixed type; and 11 with the unilateral upper motor neuron type. We measured speaking rate, articulation rate, and speech/pause ratio. All patients except one showed a slower speaking rate, and all of the dysarthric groups showed significantly slower rates as compared to the control group. The present data indicate that speaking rate is a sensitive measure of abnormal motor speech performance in all types of dysarthria. However, abnormality in articulation rate was not found in flaccid and hypokinetic dysarthria. In addition, the relationship between speaking rate and articulation rate was not significant in these two groups. These results indicate that speaking rate is not necessarily related to articulation rate in some types of dysarthria, and the clinical measurement of speaking rate needs to include both articulation rate and speech/pause ratio. Based on these findings, clinical strategy in the use of the speaking rate control approach was discussed.