A first investigation of tongue, lip, and jaw movements in persons with dysarthria due to multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Background: Multiple sclerosis can affect the speech motor system and result in dysarthria. Objectives: This pilot study sought to identify tongue, lip, and jaw motor deficits in persons with dysarthria due to multiple sclerosis (PwDMS) to better understand the speech motor mechanisms that underlie their aberrant speech. Methods: Tongue and jaw movements during /ai/ and lower lip and jaw movements during /bob/ were examined in eleven PwDMS and fourteen age- and sex-matched controls using threedimensional electromagnetic articulography. Movement duration, maximum displacement, peak speed, stiffness (i.e., peak speed/displacement ratio), and jaw contribution to lower lip and tongue displacements were of particular interest. Results: Whereas most kinematic measures yielded significant between-group differences for tongue and jaw motor performance during /ai/, lower lip and jaw motor performance during /bob/ were mostly comparable between groups. Conclusion: Findings suggest that speech movements of the tongue are differentially more impaired than those of the lower lip in PwDMS. Particularly the ability to move the tongue with adequate speed during speech was significantly impaired in PwDMS, which may explain, in part, their slowed speech rate. Aberrant jaw kinematics during /ai/ may be a compensatory strategy to maximize speech clarity in the presence of the impaired tongue motor performance.

Neuromotor Speech Recovery Across Different Behavioral Speech Modifications in Individuals Following Facial Transplantation

“…These findings provide value when considering functional outcomes for potential surgical candidates, as patients requiring surgical techniques that impede jaw movement may experience worse functional speech outcomes than those who do not. Similar findings have been reported in populations with impaired speech motor control such as multiple sclerosis (55) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (56,57) or during normal speech motor development in neurotypical children (58).…”

Force, alternate movements, snap, suction and vibration functions of tongue are altered in oral submucous fibrosis patients

“…Mefferd et al conducted a pilot study to investigate the tongue, lip, and jaw movements in individuals suffering from dysarthria due to multiple sclerosis. 5 The study concluded that the ability of these individuals to move their tongue with adequate speed was significantly compromised, leading to a slow speech rate in such subjects. Similar to these studies, our present study also observed alterations in tongue mobility in the early and late stages of OSMF.…”

“…Not only in healthy individuals, but clinical assessment of the tongue has also been performed in subjects with disorders such as ankyloglossia, skeletal Class II malocclusion, and multiple sclerosis. 3 , 4 , 5 , 10 A study by Jamilian et al examined the relationship between the classification of ankyloglossia and the mobility of the tongue. 3 The tongue mobility was assessed according to Kotlow's criteria, which included touching the upper and lower lips with the tip of the tongue without any strain, retrusion of the tongue without blanching of tissue, and no exhibition of difficulty in speech associated with limited tongue mobility.…”

“…Mobility of the tongue and its correlation with the disease process has been assessed in individuals with ankyloglossia, skeletal class II malocclusion, and multiple sclerosis, wherein, the tongue movements were compromised due to the lingual frenulum, dentofacial morphology, and progressive fibrosis. 3 , 4 , 5 Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is one such condition of the oral cavity that causes tissue fibrosis and loss of fibroelasticity of the oral mucosa, resulting in restricted mouth opening, rigidity of the lips and tongue. 6 Thus, this disease process might also possibly affect the normal tongue movements and disturb the regular activities of an affected individual.…”

Update on Recent Developments in Communication and Swallowing in Multiple Sclerosis

“…Mefferd et al 21 estimated with kinematic measurements that speech movements of the tongue are more impaired than lower lip movements in persons with MS. Future studies should make clear which compensatory technique improves speech intelligibility.…”