Edythe A. Strand

Comprehensibility of Dysarthric SpeechImplications for Assessment and Treatment Planning

This paper describes the concept of comprehensibility and how it is an important construct in the assessment and treatment of dysarthric speech. Intelligibility and comprehensibility are differenti...

Management of oral-pharyngeal dysphagia symptoms in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Oral and pharyngeal dysphagia is a common symptom in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and is the result of a progressive loss of function in bulbar and respiratory muscles. Clinicians involved in the management of ALS patients should be familiar with the common clinical findings and the usual patterns of temporal progression. The prevention of secondary complications, such as nutritional deficiency and dehydration that compound the deteriorating effects of the disease, requires careful monitoring of each patients functional status and timely intervention with appropriate management techniques.

Differential phonatory characteristics of four women with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Patients with specific neural subsystem involvement are often reported to present with particular perceptual characteristics of voice. This has been true for diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive disease in which mixed neurologic signs are present. This article reports acoustic data on the phonatory performance of four women diagnosed with ALS who had initial bulbar signs and progressive phonatory deterioration. The data presented here demonstrate that the phonatory characteristics of women with ALS are not uniform, but in fact may vary greatly from patient to patient.

Features of Spontaneous Language in Speakers With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Dysarthria

Language samples (picture description) produced by moderately dysarthric speakers with ALS were compared with those of gender- and age-matched controls. Results indicated that dysarthric speakers p...