Relationship between Vowel Production and Speech Clarity in Post-stroke Dysarthria Patients / 中国康复理论与实践

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the characteristics of vowel production of dysarthria after stroke, and the relationship between vowel production and speech clarity. Methods:From October, 2019 to January, 2020, 19 patients with post-stroke dysarthria and 18 healthy controls were asked to read a short essay to extract vowels, and measured the jaw distance, tongue distance, F2i/F2u, vowel space area (VSA), vowel articulation index (VAI), F1 and F2 variability, and speech clarity. The correlation between vowel production and speech clarity were analyzed. Results:Tongue distance, F2i/F2u, VSA, VAI, and speech clarity were less in the patients than in the controls (|t| > 2.268, P < 0.05), while F2 variability was more (t = 2.375, P < 0.05). F2i/F2u (r = 0.465), VAI (r = 0.488) and F2 variability (r = -0.504) were correlated to speech clarity (P < 0.05). Conclusion:The vowel production impaired in patients with post-stroke dysarthria, featured as abnormal articulatory movements, concentration of vowels and poor stability of vowels, which impacts the speech clarity.