The tables below summarize the various tasks used by three different formal dysarthria assessment instruments. Subsystem: Respiration Instrument
Task
Level
Frenchay Dysarthria Assessment (Enderby, 1983). Austin: Pro-Ed
Take a deep breath & let it out as audibly & slowly as possible
Dysarthria Profile (Robertson, 1982) Tuscon: Communication Skill Builders
Resting breathing
Method
Count to 20 on one breath
Short conversation (observe deepness, rate, speaking on exhalation, inhalation, stridor) Sustain /s/ Crescendo /s/ Diminuendo /s/ Series of short /s/ Sigh
Dysarthria Examination Battery (Drummond, 1993). Tuscon: Communication Skill Builders.
Resting Breathing Vital capacity MPT s:z ratio Words per exhalation (counting & Grandfather Passage) Subsystem: Phonation
Instrument
Task
Frenchay
MPT Sing a scale Volume (count to 5 increasing volume on each number) Quality during connected speech
Dysarthria Profile
Short /a/ MPT
Level
Method
/a/ very loud Crescendo /a/ Diminuendo /a/ Series of short /a/ Raise & lower pitch in steps /a/ Glide pitch up & down /a/ Quality during connected speech Dysarthria Examination Battery
Fundamental frequency and intensity of habitual /a/ Fo range on /a/ (also obtain optimal pitch) Intensity range & optimal loudness Quality during connected speech Subsystem: Resonation
Instrument
Task
Frenchay
Report or observation of food coming out of the nose Observe velar elevation during a series of /a/'s Note nasal resonance & emission during /may pay/ & /nay bay/
Dysarthria Profile
Observation of velum at rest Observe velar elevation during a single /a/ Observe velar elevation during a series of /a/'s
Dysarthria Examination Battery
Observe velar elevation during a series of /a/'s Note nasal resonance & emission with a nasal mirror during /may pay/ (each nostril separately) Perceptual judgement of nasality during /may pay/ Palatal and pharyngeal reflexes
Level
Method
Subsystem: Articulation Instrument
Task
Frenchay
Observe lips, jaw & tongue at rest ROM during smile Blow air into cheeks & hold for 15 seconds repeat /p/ 10 times repeat "oo ee" 10 times Observe lip, jaw, & tongue movement during speech Protrude & retract tongue 5 times Point tongue towards nose and then chin, 5 times Move tongue from side to side 5 times "ka la" 10 times as quickly as possible
Dysarthria Profile
Facial symmetry
Dysarthria Profile
Broad smile (lip ROM) Purse, stretch lips Close lips for a count of 5 "My mother made an apple and blackberry pie" Open & close mouth slowly 3 times Move lower jaw to right & left
Dysarthria Profile
Observe tongue at rest Tongue protrusion Tongue retraction Tongue to right and left Pass tongue over teeth Put tongue into right & left cheek Open mouth and put tongue against back of teeth
Level
Method
Curl tongue towards nose Repetition of single words and phrases Dysarthria Examination Battery
"oo-ee" five times /p/ five times Open jaw as far as possible and then close (palpate TMJ) Tongue protrusion & retraction 5 times Tongue elevation & depression 5 times Tongue lateralization 5 times /ka ta/ 5 times Tongue resistance against tongue blade Subsystem: Intelligibility
Instrument
Task
Frenchay
Single words (blind)
Level
Method
Level
Method
Sentences (blind) Conversation Dysarthria Profile
Reading aloud (SLP, friend, stranger) spontaneous speech (SLP, friend, stranger)
Dysarthria Examination Battery
10 single words (blind) 12 sentences (blind) Subsystem: Prosody
Instrument
Task
Frenchay
Rate (words per minute)
Dysarthria Profile
Months of the year (comfortable and fast rate) Short conversation (rate and rhythm) Vary stress in sentences (imitation)
Dysarthria
Reading rate
Examination Battery
Perceptual judgements during reading and spontaneous speech Average sentence duration and average sentence Fo range Additional tasks
Instrument
Task
Frenchay
Reflexes (cough, swallow, reported or noted drooling) Influencing factors (hearing, sight, teeth, language, mood, posture, sensation)
Dysarthria Profile
speech and nonspeech DDK (in addition to oral mech exam) Reflexes (chewing & swallowing, cough)
Dysarthria Examination Battery
Oral sensitivity to tactile stimulation
Level
Method