The Prosodic Characteristics of Dysarthria with Respect to Speech Rate and Intonation Slope

Seo, In Hyo; Seong, Cheol Jae

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Commun Sci Disord. 2012;17(3): 390-402.

In Hyo Seo^` , and Cheol Jae Seong^`

서인효(In Hyo Seo)| 성철재(Cheol Jae Seong)

ABSTRACT

Background and Objectives
The present study reports on the nature of the prosodic disturbances in subjects with dysarthria compared with normal speakers.
Methods
This study, based on analysis of intonation stimulability for alternative question sentence, reports on temporal and intonational components for 16 subjects with dysarthria and 13 healthy controls.
Results
Prosodic features that were preserved in the subjects with dysarthria were pause proportion, ㎃ slope for sentence and all of intonation slope in sentential Q2 final word. However, the subjects with dysarthria had reduced speaking and articulation rates, reduced F₀ slope and q-tone slope for sentence, and all of intonation slope in sentential Q1 final word. Discussion and
Conclusion
The results showed that specifically, in rising intonation, subjects with dysarthria had slower speech rate and more gradual intonation slope than normal speakers.