In spastic dysarthria, what is typically affected in terms of movement?

In spastic dysarthria, the primary characteristics of movement are reduced strength and slowness. This type of dysarthria results from upper motor neuron lesions, which cause a combination of weakness and hypertonicity (increased muscle tone). The increased muscle tone leads to stiffness and resistance to movement, making it difficult for an individual to articulate speech effectively.

As a result, the speech produced by an individual with spastic dysarthria is often characterized by a strained and effortful quality, with noticeable reductions in the speed and strength of movements required for proper articulation. The muscles may not be able to contract or relax as smoothly as necessary, leading to slurred or unclear speech.

While there may be other aspects of communication affected, such as volume or prosody, the hallmark features of reduced strength and slowness directly relate to the fundamental problem of motor control in spastic dysarthria. Understanding this aspect is crucial for effective diagnosis and intervention strategies in speech-language pathology.