Which statement is true about patients with ataxic dysarthria?

Patients with ataxic dysarthria often exhibit irregular and uncoordinated speech movements, which is a hallmark characteristic of this type of speech disorder. Ataxic dysarthria typically arises from damage to the cerebellum or its pathways, affecting the motor control necessary for smooth and precise speech production. As a result, individuals may produce speech that is marked by variations in timing, rhythm, and intonation, leading to an irregular speech pattern.

The other statements do not align with typical characteristics associated with ataxic dysarthria. For instance, while swallowing difficulties can occur in various dysarthria types, they are not a defining feature of ataxic dysarthria, making the statement about rare swallowing deficits misleading in this context. Additionally, cognitive deficits are not commonly associated with ataxic dysarthria itself; it primarily involves motor control issues, whereas cognitive impairments might be present in other neurological conditions but are not a direct result of ataxic dysarthria. Thus, the assertion that irregular speech movements may occur accurately describes the speech patterns seen in this condition.