Relative Speech Timing in Parkinson Disease

ABSTRACT: Relative speech timing was examined in individuals with Parkinson disease (PD) and in agematched control speakers. Relative timing ratios were created from temporal intervals in one phrase containing no pause, one phrase containing an optional pause, and one phrase containing a mandatory pause. Results indicated that there were no relative timing differences between participants with PD and the controls. However, there were subtle differences in PD participant to control participant comparisons when examined in relation to the expected pause location. Overall, these data support previous studies, which found that speech relative timing is invariant on natural tasks despite changes in absolute timing. In addition, these data support the contention that speech relative timing is constrained by the physiology of the speech production system.