Multiparametric Analysis of Speech Production Mechanisms

Describes a new multiparametric approach based on techniques for simultaneous analysis of oromandibular EMG signals and speech in various phonatory reaction tasks, to investigate the speech motor system. Data on latencies of EMG signals (EMG reaction time (RT)) and speech (voice RT) measured during phonatory reaction tasks from both normal subjects of various ages and pathological Parkinsonian subjects are presented. The present methodology has been found to be reproducible, noninvasive and simple, even in pathological cases. Measurements of RT were shown to be useful to analyze in quantitative terms mechanisms involved in speech production and their relationships with certain pathological conditions. In fact, the phonatory RT measurement seems to be helpful to reveal even very subtle or sub-clinical impairments of motor control performance in speech production, which can be greatly affected by aging and by neuromuscular diseases (central or peripheral disorders).