title: Crosslinguistic application of English-centric rhythm descriptors in motor speech disorders.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rhythmic disturbances are a hallmark of motor speech disorders, in which the motor control deficits interfere with the outward flow of speech and by extension speech understanding. As the functions of rhythm are language-specific, breakdowns in rhythm should have language-specific consequences for communication.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The goals of this paper are to (i) provide a review of the cognitive-linguistic role of rhythm in speech perception in a general sense and crosslinguistically; (ii) present new results of lexical segmentation challenges posed by different types of dysarthria in American English, and (iii) offer a framework for crosslinguistic considerations for speech rhythm disturbances in the diagnosis and treatment of communication disorders associated with motor speech disorders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This review presents theoretical and empirical reasons for considering speech rhythm as a critical component of communication deficits in motor speech disorders, and addresses the need for crosslinguistic research to explore language-universal versus language-specific aspects of motor speech disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Speech and Hearing Science, Arizona State University, Tempe, Ariz., USA.
authors.forename: Julie M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Liss
authors.forename: Rene
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Utianski
authors.forename: Kaitlin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lansford
mesh_terms: D001259:Ataxia / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D003144:Communication Barriers; D003463:Cues; D004401:Dysarthria / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D046709:Pattern Recognition, Physiological; D010507:Periodicity; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D013065:Speech Intelligibility; D013067:Speech Perception