Article Text
Abstract
Background: Myotonia and weakness are the most important components of dysarthric speech in myotonic dystrophy.
Objective: To specify and quantify possible defects in speech execution in patients with adult onset myotonic dystrophy.
Methods: Studies on speech production were done on 30 mildly affected patients with myotonic dystrophy. Special attention was paid to myotonia. Because muscle activity can result in a decrease of myotonia, speech characteristics were measured before and after warm up. The possibility that warming up causes increased weakness was also assessed.
Results: As with other motor skills, a warm up effect was found in speech production, resulting in an increase in repetition rate and a decrease in variability of repetition rate. Signs of fatigue did not occur.
Conclusions: Warming up is valuable for patients with myotonic dystrophy in reducing the influence of myotonia on speech production.
- MRR, maximum repetition rate
- MSP, maximum sound prolongation
- myotonic dystrophy
- dysarthria
- warm up
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Footnotes
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Competing interests: none declared