Slowly Progressive Dysarthria

Abstract

Dysarthria, a motor speech disorder resulting from a disturbance of the neuromuscular control of the speech organs, is a relatively frequent symptom in a number of neurological affections. In the Dutch transient ischemic attack trial study (Koudstaal et al., 1993) 24% of the patients having suffered a TIA or a nondisabling stroke had dysarthria. The incidence of dysarthria was superior to that of aphasia (19%). In Dippel’s investigation (1994) of subarachnoid hemorrhage, dysarthria was diagnosed on 6% of the cases. In a consecutive series of 17 children with posterior fossa tumours, dysarthria was observed 7 times, i.e. 41% (van Dongen et al., 1994). Like acquired stuttering (Lebrun et al., 1983), dysarthria may be the first presenting symptom of a neurological disease (Oosterhuis, 1984). Lamprecht (1990) found that dysarthria, dysphagia and/or dysphonia were the initial symptom(s) in about 30% of patients with myasthenia gravis or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.