Speech iterations in parkinsonism: A case study

Abstract

This study provides a phonologic and acoustic description of the verbal repetitions observed in a female Parkinsonian patient. The fluency disorder developed in association with the extrapyramidal syndrome. In accordance with the concept of «acquired stuttering» the predominantly monosyllabic iterations occurred at all word positions. No effect of adaptation could be observed. Furthermore, the patient, apparently, did not show any concern about her speech disorder. The suggestion of a distinct syndrome of extrapyramidal dysfluencies, in contrast to «acquired stuttering» of vascular or traumatic origin, was not corroborated by the findings of the present study. Finally, iterated and non-iterated syllables did not consistently differ with respect to articulatory precision and speech rate.