dysarthriaexamination

The tables below summarize the various tasks used by three different formal dysarthria assessment instruments.

Subsystem: Respiration Instrument

Task

Level

Frenchay Dysarthria Assessment (Enderby, 1983). Austin: Pro-Ed

Take a deep breath & let it out as audibly & slowly as possible

Dysarthria Profile (Robertson, 1982) Tuscon: Communication Skill Builders

Resting breathing

Method

Count to 20 on one breath

Short conversation (observe deepness, rate, speaking on exhalation, inhalation, stridor) Sustain /s/ Crescendo /s/ Diminuendo /s/ Series of short /s/ Sigh

Dysarthria Examination Battery (Drummond, 1993). Tuscon: Communication Skill Builders.

Resting Breathing Vital capacity MPT s:z ratio Words per exhalation (counting & Grandfather Passage) Subsystem: Phonation

Instrument

Task

Frenchay

MPT Sing a scale Volume (count to 5 increasing volume on each number) Quality during connected speech

Dysarthria Profile

Short /a/ MPT

Level

Method

/a/ very loud Crescendo /a/ Diminuendo /a/ Series of short /a/ Raise & lower pitch in steps /a/ Glide pitch up & down /a/ Quality during connected speech Dysarthria Examination Battery

Fundamental frequency and intensity of habitual /a/ Fo range on /a/ (also obtain optimal pitch) Intensity range & optimal loudness Quality during connected speech Subsystem: Resonation

Instrument

Task

Frenchay

Report or observation of food coming out of the nose Observe velar elevation during a series of /a/'s Note nasal resonance & emission during /may pay/ & /nay bay/

Dysarthria Profile

Observation of velum at rest Observe velar elevation during a single /a/ Observe velar elevation during a series of /a/'s

Dysarthria Examination Battery

Observe velar elevation during a series of /a/'s Note nasal resonance & emission with a nasal mirror during /may pay/ (each nostril separately) Perceptual judgement of nasality during /may pay/ Palatal and pharyngeal reflexes

Level

Method

Subsystem: Articulation Instrument

Task

Frenchay

Observe lips, jaw & tongue at rest ROM during smile Blow air into cheeks & hold for 15 seconds repeat /p/ 10 times repeat "oo ee" 10 times Observe lip, jaw, & tongue movement during speech Protrude & retract tongue 5 times Point tongue towards nose and then chin, 5 times Move tongue from side to side 5 times "ka la" 10 times as quickly as possible

Dysarthria Profile

Facial symmetry

Dysarthria Profile

Broad smile (lip ROM) Purse, stretch lips Close lips for a count of 5 "My mother made an apple and blackberry pie" Open & close mouth slowly 3 times Move lower jaw to right & left

Dysarthria Profile

Observe tongue at rest Tongue protrusion Tongue retraction Tongue to right and left Pass tongue over teeth Put tongue into right & left cheek Open mouth and put tongue against back of teeth

Level

Method

Curl tongue towards nose Repetition of single words and phrases Dysarthria Examination Battery

"oo-ee" five times /p/ five times Open jaw as far as possible and then close (palpate TMJ) Tongue protrusion & retraction 5 times Tongue elevation & depression 5 times Tongue lateralization 5 times /ka ta/ 5 times Tongue resistance against tongue blade Subsystem: Intelligibility

Instrument

Task

Frenchay

Single words (blind)

Level

Method

Level

Method

Sentences (blind) Conversation Dysarthria Profile

Reading aloud (SLP, friend, stranger) spontaneous speech (SLP, friend, stranger)

Dysarthria Examination Battery

10 single words (blind) 12 sentences (blind) Subsystem: Prosody

Instrument

Task

Frenchay

Rate (words per minute)

Dysarthria Profile

Months of the year (comfortable and fast rate) Short conversation (rate and rhythm) Vary stress in sentences (imitation)

Dysarthria

Reading rate

Examination Battery

Perceptual judgements during reading and spontaneous speech Average sentence duration and average sentence Fo range Additional tasks

Instrument

Task

Frenchay

Reflexes (cough, swallow, reported or noted drooling) Influencing factors (hearing, sight, teeth, language, mood, posture, sensation)

Dysarthria Profile

speech and nonspeech DDK (in addition to oral mech exam) Reflexes (chewing & swallowing, cough)

Dysarthria Examination Battery

Oral sensitivity to tactile stimulation

Level

Method