Evaluation of orofacial force-related measures using a novel measuring device: explanation of associations with speech rate in dysarthria

ABSTRACT

Background

The aim of this study was to examine the potential associations between orofacial force-related measures and speech rate in matched groups of 23 adults with dysarthria, and 69 healthy adults.

Research design and methods

A novel piezoresistive sensor-based device was utilized to obtain the orofacial maximum forces (OMFs) and rate of force development (RFD) measures. The study computed alternating motion rates (AMRs), sequential motion rates (SMRs), and articulation rate (AR) for all participants. The analysis included between-group comparisons and correlation analyses. The study also examined the reliability of the OMFs and RFD measures.

Results

Individuals with dysarthria exhibited significantly slower speech rates (approximately 41.89% to 56.53% slower) compared to the control group. Except for a few exceptions in the jaw, the dysarthria group demonstrated significantly lower OMFs and RFD measures. The correlation analysis revealed that OMFs were weakly to moderately correlated (r = .488–.674) and RFD measures were very weak to moderately correlated (r = .047–.578) with speech rate measures.

Conclusions

The findings suggest that reduced OMFs and RFD measures may contribute to the slowed speech rate observed in adults with dysarthria. The study also highlights that OMFs are significantly more reliable (day-to-day) than RFD measures.

KEYWORDS:

• Dysarthria
• muscle weakness
• speech rate
• reliability
• rate of force development

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Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial relationships or otherwise to disclose.

Author contributions

All authors contributed to the design and implementation of the research, to the analysis of the results and to the writing of the manuscript.

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the continuous efforts of Bonyan Sanate Novin Milas (BSNlab) team in making the device. We would like to thank the Clinical Research Development Centres, Imam Reza, Farabi, and Taleqani educational hospitals, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, for their support, cooperation and assistance throughout the period of study. Sincere gratitude is also extended to all of the volunteer participants.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.