Clinical identification of dysarthria types among neurologists, residents in neurology and speech therapists.

BACKGROUND

Classification of dysarthria types comprises flaccid, spastic, ataxic, hypo- and hyperkinetic and mixed dysarthria. This study focussed on the ability of neurologists to clinically identify the correct type of dysarthria in neurological patients.

METHODS

Eighteen patients with dysarthria and 4 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. The gold standard for dysarthria type was the underlying neurological disease. Recordings of a standard reading passage and free speech were made. Raters were neurologists, residents in neurology and speech therapists, whose scores were compared.

RESULTS

Neurologists correctly identified 40% of the recordings, residents 41%, and speech therapists 37%. Interrater agreement was fair among all 3 groups; intrarater agreement was fair to moderate.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that neurologists should be aware of the unreliability of identifying the dysarthria type without the use of additional validated instruments or rating scales in a clinical setting.