Consonant Initial Articulation in Dysarthric Speech: A Case of Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

This study examines the consonant initial production in dysarthric speech of an adult with cerebral palsy (CP), based on naturalistic speech data from accessible performances. Perceptual and acoustic analyses of 21 Mandarin initials revealed an overall error rate of 11.51%, indicating moderate dysarthria. Errors were more frequent in consonants requiring posterior articulation or complex lingual gestures (e.g., /x/, /l/, /f/) than in anterior or simple consonants (e.g., bilabials and alveolars). Substitutions accounted for 90.91% of errors, primarily reflecting place and manner changes attributable to motor control deficits, while distortions constituted 9.09% of errors. No omissions were observed. The findings underscore the influence of articulatory complexity and spasticity on consonant production and offer both theoretical and clinical insights into speech rehabilitation strategies for adults with dysarthria.