What does Hypokinetic Dysarthria Sound Like?
Individuals facing hypokinetic dysarthria typically struggle significantly to speak clearly and with ease, making everyday communication a major challenge. Hypokinetic dysarthria is classified as a motor speech disorder caused by neurological damage that leads to weakened muscles required for speech production. Neurological conditions such as a brain tumor or Parkinson’s disease can cause damage to the brain and result in major impacts on basic communication.
This disorder differs from others (such as aphasia or apraxia of speech) as it involves weakened muscles, as opposed to speech planning or language comprehension skills. Hypokinetic dysarthria often leads to significant disruptions in speech abilities, making accomplishing simple tasks and navigating daily life incredibly difficult.
Speech therapy provides support to those affected by this disorder, as well as those who love and care for them. If you or a loved one needs the support of a qualified speech and language pathologist, get started by scheduling your free introductory call today!
What are the Symptoms of Hypokinetic Dysarthria?
The symptoms of hypokinetic dysarthria can vary between cases, but the most commonly identified characteristics of the disorder include:
- Monotonous Speech
- Reduced Vocal Strength or Volume
- A Breathy or Hoarse Vocal Quality
- Unclear or Imprecise Consonant and Vowel Sound Production
- Short and Rapid Bursts of Speech
- Abnormal or Irregular Pauses during Speech
In addition to the symptoms listed above, individuals may also experience sensory elements of the disorder, such as decreased awareness of speech changes and abilities or the inability to accurately perceive their own vocal volume. These specific speech symptoms are unique to this disorder, making diagnosis and subsequent treatment relatively straightforward.
What Causes Hypokinetic Dysarthria?
Damage to the area of the brain known as the basal ganglia causes hypokinetic dysarthria to develop. The basal ganglia is responsible for controlling movement and coordination, which, when damaged, leads to a reduction in movement, range of motion, and muscle rigidity.
Parkinson’s disease is the most common cause of hypokinetic dysarthria. However, this disorder can also be caused by:
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Stroke
- Exposure to Certain Toxins or Drugs
- Infection or Inflammation Affecting the Basal Ganglia
What is the Difference between Hyperkinetic and Hypokinetic Dysarthria?
Dysarthria is a speech disorder that causes slurred speech. There are 6 main types of dysarthria, including hypokinetic and hyperkinetic dysarthria. As mentioned above, hypokinetic dysarthria is characterized by slow (hypo) speech that is also monotone and rigid-sounding. Hyperkinetic dysarthria is associated with rapid or “hyper” speech that is often unpredictable and inconsistent.
If you or a loved one is struggling to be understood by others due to slurred or disfluent speech, speech therapy can help. Get started with one of our experienced speech and language pathologists by scheduling your free introductory call today!
How to Distinguish Dysarthria Types?
Distinguishing between various types of dysarthria is best done by speech and language pathologists who are familiar with this disorder and its different manifestations. Proper identification of the dysarthria type involves a thorough analysis of several different aspects of speech, such as vocal strength, muscle control and coordination, and the presence of specific speech patterns relating to a particular type of the disorder.
How is Hypokinetic Dysarthria Connected to Parkinson’s Disease?
Recent studies have shown that between 70 and 90 percent of those living with Parkinson’s disease also struggle with hypokinetic dysarthria. This makes hypokinetic dysarthria a common and persistent motor speech disorder among those with Parkinson’s Disease.
Parkinson’s disease causes changes and damage to the area of the brain responsible for muscle control and movement. Some medications and treatment methods are available to help reduce the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, but they aren’t always effective at improving speech.
How Does Hypokinetic Dysarthria Affect Communication?
Hypokinetic dysarthria not only affects speech, it also can have a profound impact on an individual’s ability to communicate with others in a clear and effective manner. Individuals with this disorder often produce speech that is slurred and difficult to understand, making it difficult for them to navigate social interactions and express themselves properly. These challenges can profoundly impact many aspects of daily life, making simple conversations difficult and reducing the individual’s overall quality of life. More specifically, hypokinetic dysarthria affects:
Speech Clarity & Intelligibility
Speech challenges related to the disorder typically progress and become more severe over time. Unclear articulation, reduced vocal strength and volume, and abnormal speech rhythms and patterns can make it difficult to be understood by others.
Socialization
Communication challenges related to hypokinetic dysarthria can make navigating social situations and conversations very challenging, often leading to social isolation or the development of social anxiety. Individuals with this disorder may struggle to express ideas, feelings, needs, or concerns, converse with others, maintain regular employment, and build meaningful relationships.
Emotional and Psychological Impacts
Difficulties with communication can have major impacts on mental health and emotional well-being, often causing individuals to feel frustrated, ashamed, embarrassed, or isolated. These communication challenges can also cause individuals to become withdrawn and disconnected from others, reducing their self-esteem and quality of life.
How is Hypokinetic Dysarthria Treated?
While hypokinetic dysarthria often leads to major communication challenges, speech therapy offers hope to those living with this disorder. The goal of speech therapy for hypokinetic dysarthria is to improve speech intelligibility in routine environments and scenarios. The speech therapist will help the individual to compensate for their speech deficits and provide techniques and methods to support overall communication skills.
Some of the most commonly used speech therapy techniques for hypokinetic dysarthria include:
Breath Control & Optimization: The speech and language pathologist will provide techniques aimed at optimizing inhalations and exhalations and improving breath control.
Articulation & Phonology Exercises: These exercises target vocal quality and speech clarity, helping the individual to produce clearer and more fluent speech, making it easier for them to be understood by others.
Pacing Techniques: Methods that help to regulate the pace of speech can be very beneficial for those with hypokinetic dysarthria. Using a metronome or finger tapping can reduce instances of speech that sound rushed or jumbled, effectively improving speech intelligibility.
Speech therapy for hypokinetic dysarthria focuses on daily communication and routine situations to improve overall communication. Consistent appointments, regular practice, and support from caregivers and loved ones all contribute to the improvement of speech clarity, allowing the individual to maintain a certain degree of independence and quality of life. If you’d like to learn more about whether speech therapy might be right for you, connect with us by scheduling your free introductory call today!