Sequential motion rate and oral reading rate: normative data for Greek and clinical implications

Abstract

Introduction

The aim of the present study was to provide normative data in Greek, regarding sequential motion rate (SMR) and oral reading rate (ORR), and to show the sensitivity of both tasks to predict Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Methods

The speech rate of sixty-five healthy control participants was recorded and analyzed using speech acoustics. The speech rate of a subsample of 20 healthy control participants was compared to the speech rate of 20 pair-matched dysarthric parkinsonian participants. All participants produced the syllables /pataka/ (SMR task) as quickly as possible and read aloud a standard Greek passage (ORR task).

Results

In normative data, the mean score for the SMR variable was 4.91 syllables per second (SD = 0.73) and for the ORR variable was 4.42 syllables per second (SD = 0.87). The Mann–Whitney test showed significant differences between the two groups of participants in the SMR (U = 64.000, Z = –4.60, p < .001) and ORR (U = 77.000, Z = –4.36, p < .001). Multiple binary logistic regression analysis examined the combined effect of ORR and SMR on the occurrence of the disease. The sensitivity of both tasks to predict PD was found to be 0.88 and the specificity 0.90. The optimal screening cutoff point was found to be 4.66 syllables/second for the SMR task and 2.79 syllables/second for the ORR task.

Conclusions

This study provided Greek normative data in SMR and ORR tasks. Both tasks showed high sensitivity and specificity to predict PD in the Greek sample of participants.

Keywords:

• Diadochokinesis
• Parkinson's disease
• acoustic analysis
• sequential motion rate
• oral reading rate
• Greek

Disclosure statement

No conflict of interest exists in this study.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

K. Konstantopoulos

Dr K. Konstantopoulos is an associate professor in speech therapy specialized in motor speech disorders.

P. Vogazianos

Dr P. Vogazianos is a statistician.

Y. Christou

Dr Y. Christou is a neurologist and is specialized in degenerative neurological diseases.

M. Pisinou

M. Pisinou is a graduate student at European University Cyprus.