Motor Speech Disorders

Abstract

The authors have limited consideration of motor speech disorders to dysarthrias of neurogenic nature. Aphasias (defined by the authors as problems of processing and symbolic formulation of the language code) are excluded. So are the deviant patterns of speech, such as developmental disorders of articulation and those disorders arising from structural impairments, such as cleft palate. A short but useful review of the basic motor process of speech production and its evaluation by clinical and other techniques is included. A more detailed description of relatively unfamiliar methods, such as palatography and videofluoroscopy would have been desirable. The neurologist will find the chapters on principles of neurologic function and hierarchy of motor organization rather basic. Other specialists may find these useful. On the other hand, many speech pathologists may find the section on motor speech examination somewhat devoid of detail. A disproportionately large space is allotted to the examination of the