The relationship between the severity of apraxia of speech and working memory / Relação entre gravidade da apraxia de fala e memória operacional

Based on previously observed relationships between working memory (WM) and speech, the current study investigated the relationship between degree of oral apraxia (AOS) and WM capacity. Methods: This study involved assessment and classification of degree of apraxia of speech in 22 apraxic participants and evaluation of WM capacity using digit span and word-list repetition tests. Both tests were able to assess the phonoarticulatory loop, while the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test investigated the phonoarticulatory loop and the episodic buffer. Results: Independently from the degree of apraxia of speech, all of participants presented compromise in WM. Conclusions: The data presented might suggest that individuals with AOS typically have WM impairment, but it is still not clear if the severity of AOS is related to WM capacity. Future studies could verify the relationship between the severity of apraxia and the severity of WM deficits.

Considerando-se que estudos anteriores observaram correlações entre a memória operacional e a apraxia de fala, o objetivo do presente estudo foi o de verificar se há correlação entre a gravidade da apraxia de fala e a alteração da memória operacional. Métodos: Foram avaliados 22 pacientes apráxicos. Todos os participantes foram submetidos à avaliação da apraxia de fala. Para investigar a memória operacional, foram aplicados o teste de span de dígitos na ordem direta e inversa, um teste de repetição de palavras longas e curtas e o Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, que investiga, além da alça articulatória, o buffer episódico. Resultados: Independentemente do grau da apraxia de fala, todos os participantes tiveram comprometimento da memória operacional. No entanto, não foi observada correlação entre o grau da apraxia de fala e a presença de comprometimento da memória operacional. Conclusões: Os dados sugerem que indivíduos com apraxia de fala apresentam um déficit na memória operacional. No entanto, novos estudos devem investigar a correlação entre diferentes gravidades de apraxia de fala e diferentes graus de comprometimento da memória operacional.

The relationship between severity of apraxia of speech and working memory.

Based on previously observed relationships between working memory (WM) and speech, the current study investigated the relationship between degree of oral apraxia (AOS) and WM capacity. METHODS: This study involved assessment and classification of degree of apraxia of speech in 22 apraxic participants and evaluation of WM capacity using digit span and word-list repetition tests. Both tests were able to assess the phonoarticulatory loop, while the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test investigated the phonoarticulatory loop and the episodic buffer. RESULTS: Independently from the degree of apraxia of speech, all of participants presented compromise in WM. CONCLUSIONS: The data presented might suggest that individuals with AOS typically have WM impairment, but it is still not clear if the severity of AOS is related to WM capacity. Future studies could verify the relationship between the severity of apraxia and the severity of WM deficits.

Considerando-se que estudos anteriores observaram correlações entre a memória operacional e a apraxia de fala, o objetivo do presente estudo foi o de verificar se há correlação entre a gravidade da apraxia de fala e a alteração da memória operacional. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados 22 pacientes apráxicos. Todos os participantes foram submetidos à avaliação da apraxia de fala. Para investigar a memória operacional, foram aplicados o teste de span de dígitos na ordem direta e inversa, um teste de repetição de palavras longas e curtas e o Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, que investiga, além da alça articulatória, o buffer episódico. RESULTADOS: Independentemente do grau da apraxia de fala, todos os participantes tiveram comprometimento da memória operacional. No entanto, não foi observada correlação entre o grau da apraxia de fala e a presença de comprometimento da memória operacional. CONCLUSÕES: Os dados sugerem que indivíduos com apraxia de fala apresentam um déficit na memória operacional. No entanto, novos estudos devem investigar a correlação entre diferentes gravidades de apraxia de fala e diferentes graus de comprometimento da memória operacional.

The relationship between working memory and apraxia of speech.

The present study aimed to verify the relationship between working memory (WM) and apraxia of speech and explored which WM components were involved in the motor planning of speech. A total of 22 patients and 22 healthy adults were studied. These patients were selected according to the following inclusion criteria: a single brain lesion in the left hemisphere, presence of apraxia of speech and sufficient oral comprehension. This study involved assessment of apraxia of speech and evaluation of working memory capacity. The performance of apraxic patients was significantly poorer than that of controls, where this reached statistical significance. The study concluded that participants with apraxia of speech presented a working memory deficit and that this was probably related to the articulatory process of the phonoarticulatory loop. Furthermore, all apraxic patients presented a compromise in working memory.

The relationship between working memory and apraxia of speech / A interrelação entre memória operacional e apraxia de fala

The present study aimed to verify the relationship between working memory (WM) and apraxia of speech and explored which WM components were involved in the motor planning of speech. A total of 22 patients and 22 healthy adults were studied. These patients were selected according to the following inclusion criteria: a single brain lesion in the left hemisphere, presence of apraxia of speech and sufficient oral comprehension. This study involved assessment of apraxia of speech and evaluation of working memory capacity. The performance of apraxic patients was significantly poorer than that of controls, where this reached statistical significance. The study concluded that participants with apraxia of speech presented a working memory deficit and that this was probably related to the articulatory process of the phonoarticulatory loop. Furthermore, all apraxic patients presented a compromise in working memory.

O objetivo do presente estudo foi verificar a interrelação entre memória operacional e apraxia verbal e explorar quais os componentes desta memória estariam envolvidos na programação motora da fala. Foram avaliados 22 pacientes apráxicos e 22 controles. Todos os participantes foram submetidos a avaliação da apraxia de fala. Para investigar a memória operacional, foram aplicados o teste de span de dígitos na ordem direta e inversa, um teste de repetição de palavras longas e curtas e o Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, que investiga, além da alça articulatória, o buffer episódico. O desempenho dos apráxicos em todos os testes de memória foi estatisticamente significante mais baixo que o desempenho dos controles. Concluímos que indivíduos com apraxia apresentam um déficit na memória operacional e que este déficit está mais relacionado ao processo articulatório da alça fonoarticulatória.

Spinocerebellar ataxia: perceptual and acoustic analysis of speech in three cases.

BACKGROUND: dysarthrias are commonly found in patients with spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA). AIM: to characterize perceptual and acoustic features of speech in three patients with spinocerebellar ataxia and to verify the presence of similar features among these patients. METHOD: speech samples of two males with SCA3 and one male with SCA2 were obtained. Both perceptual and acoustic analyses were done. RESULTS: It was observed strain-strangled and breathiness phonation, vocal instability, increased noise-to-harmonics ratio and low alternate motion rate (AMR) and speech rate in all three patients. Deviated resonance and s/z ratio were also observed. CONCLUSION: phonatory disorders and altered temporal patterns of speech seem to be typical in dysarthric patients with spinocerebellar ataxia.

Ataxia espinocerebelar: análise perceptivo-auditiva e acústica da fala em três casos / Spinocerebellar ataxia: perceptual and acoustic analysis of speech in three cases

BACKGROUND: dysarthrias are commonly found in patients with spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA). AIM: to characterize perceptual and acoustic features of speech in three patients with spinocerebellar ataxia and to verify the presence of similar features among these patients. METHOD: speech samples of two males with SCA3 and one male with SCA2 were obtained. Both perceptual and acoustic analyses were done. RESULTS: It was observed strain-strangled and breathiness phonation, vocal instability, increased noise-to-harmonics ratio and low alternate motion rate (AMR) and speech rate in all three patients. Deviated resonance and s/z ratio were also observed. CONCLUSION: phonatory disorders and altered temporal patterns of speech seem to be typical in dysarthric patients with spinocerebellar ataxia.

TEMA: a disartria é freqüentemente descrita como característica marcante dentre as diversas manifestações clínicas das ataxias espinocerebelares (AEC). OBJETIVO: caracterizar as alterações perceptivo-auditivas e acústicas da fala de três pacientes com ataxia espinocerebelar e verificar a presença de manifestações comuns entre os casos. MÉTODO: amostras de fala de dois homens com AEC-3 e de um com AEC-2 foram coletadas e analisadas acústica e perceptivamente. RESULTADOS: foi identificada voz tensa e soprosa, instabilidade vocal, aumento da proporção ruído-harmônico, redução da diadococinesia oral de sílabas alternadas e redução da velocidade da fala nos três indivíduos, além de desvios ressonantais e da relação s/z. CONCLUSÃO: manifestações fonatórias e dos padrões temporais da fala parecem ser características de pacientes disártricos com ataxia espinocerebelar.