Verbal communication requires the production of understandable speech acoustic signals through precise and coordinated movements of the articulators – e.g., tongue, lips, and jaw. People with dysarthria can have difficulty moving these articulators due to neurological conditions that affect motor function, thus impacting their overall verbal communication. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is one such neurodegenerative disease that leads to the loss of motor control. Up to 95% of people with ALS experience difficulties with verbal communication. This has been identified as a major factor in reducing their quality of life.
To identify the underpinnings of verbal communication difficulties in people with ALS, the first part of this talk will discuss findings across three key domains: tongue movement (articulatory kinematics), acoustic signals, and speech intelligibility. The influence among these domains will be highlighted to offer a comprehensive understanding of the speech production process in people with ALS.
Because of the progressive nature of ALS, monitoring changes in speech production over time is critical for improving clinical care for this population. The second part of the talk, therefore, will present findings on longitudinal speech changes in people with ALS. The clinical implications of the findings will be discussed, including how these changes can inform valid remote monitoring of speech deterioration for people with ALS.
Finally, the talk will introduce future directions for enhancing speech intelligibility in people with ALS, including insights from recent preliminary studies that utilized a novel interactive framework. The effects of the interactive task demonstrated a promising approach for enhancing speech intelligibility.