The objective of this study was to evaluate the reliability of the INFVo scale and its relationship with objective measures and VHI scores in 40 native Italian-speaking patients with substitution voice. The maximum phonation time (MPT), diadochokinesis (DDK) of the three syllabic sequence [pa/ta/ka], reading of a passage and a single word repetition test were recorded. Each patient completed th...

Aim The oral function-related items of the newly developed Questionnaire for Latter-stage Elderly People are based on two Kihon checklist assessing masticatory and swallowing functions. In this study, we estimated questionnaire's application rate investigated function respondents. Methods Included were 699 older adults (274 men/425 women, average age, 73.4±6.6 years old). Those who responded po...

AIMS The Diadochokinetic Rate Analysis (DRA) in the KayPENTAX Motor Speech Profile is a computer program for the analysis of diadochokinesis (DDK). The objective of this study is to evaluate the suitability, reliability, and concurrent validity of the results from the DRA protocol and hand measurement for individuals with ataxic dysarthria, which is characteristically associated with dysdiadoch...

BACKGROUND The number of reliable and valid instruments to measure the effects of therapy in apraxia of speech (AoS) is limited. AIMS To evaluate the newly developed Modified Diadochokinesis Test (MDT), which is a task to assess the effects of rate and rhythm therapies for AoS in a multiple baseline across behaviours design. METHODS The consistency, accuracy and fluency of speech of 24 adul...

Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) is a paediatric speech sound disorder in which precision and consistency of speech movements are impaired. Most children with idiopathic CAS have normal structural brain MRI. We hypothesize that children with CAS have altered structural connectivity in speech/language networks compared to controls and that these altered connections are related to functional spe...

Motor functions of masticatory organs such as the tongue, lips, cheeks and mandible are known to deteriorate with age, thereby influencing masticatory performance. However, there are few reports on the relationships between tongue and lip functions and masticatory performance. To investigate the relationship between tongue and lip functions and comprehensive masticatory performance, by evaluati...

Clumsiness in preschool children may be a precursor to impaired academic performance and psychological and developmental problems. It is assumed that in this age group especially the qualitative aspects (=pattern) of a movement reflect variations in motor development. Currently available motor tests for this age group, however, mostly objectify quantitative aspects of a movement alone and do no...