Acquired dysarthria in childhood

Abstract

We analyzed the dysarthria of four children with bilateral supranuclear facial palsy and four with bilateral peripheral facial palsy. The children with peripheral lesions had only moderate dysarthria, characterized mainly by weakened vowels and consonants and by hypernasality. In contrast, children with supranuclear lesions were anarthric at first, followed by severe dysarthria with reduced stress and many pauses. Although there was a relation between severity of dysarthria and neurologic disorders, anarthria can be seen in children with bilateral supranuclear lesions and only slight neurologic disability. Damage to cortical or brainstem control mechanisms may be responsible.