Speech deficits

Abstract

Speech disorders characterize the cerebellar syndrome. In classical descriptions speech is reported as scanning, hesitant, explosive due to a lack of coordination of both articulation and phonation within a broader ataxic syndrome (ataxic dysarthria). Speech disorders are commonly observed in the presence of atrophic damage; they have been less frequently described in the presence of focal lesions confi ned to the cerebellum, primarily in the SCA territory. Cerebellar damage also produces disorders of covert articulation, which affect the planning of speech production at a “prearticulatory” level. The cerebellum is also responsible for time information processing during speech production and discrimination of perceptual components of speech.