The effects of cerebellar ataxia on sign language production: a case study.
Speech and sign production both require precise coordination of multiple articulators. The characteristics of dysarthria following ataxia have been well-documented, but less is known about the consequences of ataxia for sign language, which uses the hands and arms as articulators. This is the first study to examine ataxic dysarthria in a sign language user. What is novel in this research is that the limbs are employed for both linguistic and non-linguistic movements. Notably, sign production deficits broadly resembled ataxic dysarthria, while non-linguistic movement deficits were similar to those previously reported for ataxic limb movement.
Tyrone
Martha E
ME
Haskins Laboratories, 300 George St., Suite 900, New Haven, CT 06511, USA. tyrone@haskins.yale.edu
Atkinson
Joanna R
JR
Marshall
Jane
J
Woll
Bencie
B
D000328:Adult; D002524:Cerebellar Ataxia; D004401:Dysarthria; D006801:Humans; D007807:Language Tests; D008037:Linguistics; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D012813:Sign Language