Effect of Tapping and Pacing Rate Control Methods on Speech Rate and Intelligibility of Individuals with Spastic and Ataxic Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

The research was aimed to determine the effectiveness of tapping and pacing rate control methods on speech rate and intelligibility of individuals with spastic and ataxic cerebral palsy (CP) having dysarthria. This study was comprised of a sample of ten individuals with Cerebral Palsy having dysarthria (8 spastic dysarthria, 2 ataxic dysarthria) and they were recruited through non-probability purposive sampling strategy. They were distributed into two groups, with 5 participants in each group. Tapping and pacing rate control interventions were provided to group 1 and group 2, respectively. The pre and post speech rates of both groups were determined based on a 2-min recorded spontaneous speech sample. The pre and post intelligibility of both groups were measured by 4 speech pathologists using a 7-point intelligibility rating scale. Both methods resulted in lower speech rate. Pacing rate control method was more effective than the tapping rate control method in improving the word (p<.034*), phrase (p<.039*), and sentence intelligibility (p<.041*). The results indicated that although both methods were effective, the pacing rate control method was more effective than the tapping rate control method in enhancing the speech rate of children with CP. By using these two methods, the speech language pathologist can enhance the intelligibility of individuals with dysarthria, in a short period of time. The protocols of the research should be standardized so that they can be applied to different populations.

Keywords: tapping, pacing, rate control, intelligibility, spastic cerebral palsy, ataxic cerebral palsy