Speech intelligibility in people with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). 2021

Lavoisier Leite Neto, and Marcondes Cavalcante França Júnior, and Regina Yu Shon Chun
Programa de Pós-graduação Saúde, Interdisciplinaridade e Reabilitação, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas - UNICAMP - Campinas (SP), Brasil.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate speech intelligibility and dysarthria, correlated to the functional assessment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). METHODS Quantitative-descriptive study approved by REC under No. CAAE 62912416.4.0000.5404, comprised of 19 individuals with sporadic or familiar ALS. Data were collected using the Dysarthria Protocol and the Revised Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-Re). We used visual analogue scale (VAS) to assess speech intelligibility and summary measures; and Spearman's coefficients of correlation for the instruments with significance level of 5%. RESULTS Speech intelligibility is compromised (41.37±39.73) in varied degrees with positive correlation with the general degree of dysarthria (p=<.0001), and with all the analyzed speech parameters, indicating impact on the speech deterioration of the studied group. There is negative correlation between speech intelligibility and the results of the bulbar sections - speech and deglutition (p=0.0166), arm - activities with the upper limb (p=0.0064) and leg - activities with the lower limb (p=0.0391). Breathing (p=0.0178), phonation (p=0.0334) and resonance (p=0.0053) parameters showed a negative correlation with the item "speech" of the ALSFRS-Re. CONCLUSIONS Results show impaired speech intelligibility and dysarthria, and evidence breathing, phonation and resonance as important markers of the disease progression. A thorough and early evaluation of the oral motor production allows for a better management of alterations in ALS.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D004401 Dysarthria Disorders of speech articulation caused by imperfect coordination of pharynx, larynx, tongue, or face muscles. This may result from CRANIAL NERVE DISEASES; NEUROMUSCULAR DISEASES; CEREBELLAR DISEASES; BASAL GANGLIA DISEASES; BRAIN STEM diseases; or diseases of the corticobulbar tracts (see PYRAMIDAL TRACTS). The cortical language centers are intact in this condition. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p489) Hyperkinetic Dysarthria,Hypokinetic Dysarthria,Scanning Speech,Dysarthosis,Dysarthria, Flaccid,Dysarthria, Guttural,Dysarthria, Mixed,Dysarthria, Scanning,Dysarthria, Spastic,Dysarthoses,Dysarthria, Hyperkinetic,Dysarthria, Hypokinetic,Dysarthrias,Dysarthrias, Flaccid,Dysarthrias, Guttural,Dysarthrias, Hyperkinetic,Dysarthrias, Hypokinetic,Dysarthrias, Mixed,Dysarthrias, Scanning,Dysarthrias, Spastic,Flaccid Dysarthria,Flaccid Dysarthrias,Guttural Dysarthria,Guttural Dysarthrias,Hyperkinetic Dysarthrias,Hypokinetic Dysarthrias,Mixed Dysarthria,Mixed Dysarthrias,Scanning Dysarthria,Scanning Dysarthrias,Scanning Speechs,Spastic Dysarthria,Spastic Dysarthrias,Speechs, Scanning
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000690 Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis A degenerative disorder affecting upper MOTOR NEURONS in the brain and lower motor neurons in the brain stem and SPINAL CORD. Disease onset is usually after the age of 50 and the process is usually fatal within 3 to 6 years. Clinical manifestations include progressive weakness, atrophy, FASCICULATION, hyperreflexia, DYSARTHRIA, dysphagia, and eventual paralysis of respiratory function. Pathologic features include the replacement of motor neurons with fibrous ASTROCYTES and atrophy of anterior SPINAL NERVE ROOTS and corticospinal tracts. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp1089-94) ALS - Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis,Lou Gehrig Disease,Motor Neuron Disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis,Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis With Dementia,Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Guam Form,Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Parkinsonism-Dementia Complex of Guam,Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis-Parkinsonism-Dementia Complex 1,Charcot Disease,Dementia With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis,Gehrig's Disease,Guam Disease,Guam Form of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis,Lou Gehrig's Disease,Lou-Gehrigs Disease,ALS Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis,Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Parkinsonism Dementia Complex 1,Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Parkinsonism Dementia Complex of Guam,Disease, Guam,Disease, Lou-Gehrigs,Gehrig Disease,Gehrigs Disease,Sclerosis, Amyotrophic Lateral
D013060 Speech Communication through a system of conventional vocal symbols. Public Speaking,Speaking, Public
D013064 Speech Disorders Acquired or developmental conditions marked by an impaired ability to comprehend or generate spoken forms of language. Aprosodia,Aprosodic Speech,Cluttering,Dysglossia,Dyslalia,Rhinolalia,Verbal Fluency Disorders,Aprosodias,Clutterings,Dysglossias,Dyslalias,Rhinolalias,Speech, Aprosodic,Verbal Fluency Disorder
D013065 Speech Intelligibility Ability to make speech sounds that are recognizable. Intelligibilities, Speech,Intelligibility, Speech,Speech Intelligibilities
D013068 Speech Production Measurement Measurement of parameters of the speech product such as vocal tone, loudness, pitch, voice quality, articulation, resonance, phonation, phonetic structure and prosody. Measurement, Speech Production,Measurements, Speech Production,Production Measurement, Speech,Production Measurements, Speech,Speech Production Measurements

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