Acoustic Analysis of Dysarthria: A Comparative Study with Healthy Controls | [Pakistan Journal of Psychological Research • 2025]

Author(s):

1. Farhana Siddique: Department of English, Riphah International University, Islamabad.Pakistan

2. Uzma Anjum: Department of English, Air University, Islamabad, Pakistan.

3. Tahir Saleem: Department of English, University of Central Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.

Abstract:

Plosive sounds involve complex coordination among anatomical structures, including the respiratory system, larynx, and supralaryngeal structures, often resulting in divergent acoustic measurements in individuals with speech-language disorders. Dysarthria, characterized by impaired speech motor control, significantly affects speech articulation. This study, conducted in Islamabad, Pakistan, explores Voice Onset Time (VOT) in dysarthric individuals compared to healthy controls. Thirty participants, 15 with dysarthria and 15 age-matched healthy speakers, were recruited from the National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine and the Armed Forces Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, both based in Islamabad. Employing a quantitative design, acoustic analysis was performed using PRAAT (v5.3.56), and statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS (v21). This study offers a novel contribution by analyzing VOT variations in a linguistically diverse population, including Urdu, Punjabi, and Balti speakers, across different types of dysarthria. Results indicated that dysarthric speakers had consistently longer VOT values, with a mean difference of 33.52 milliseconds (dysarthric) compared to -18.74 milliseconds (healthy), a statistically significant gap (p < 0.05). Voiced/voiceless distinctions and place of articulation were identified as factors influencing VOT in both groups. The findings provide strong evidence of prolonged VOT in dysarthric speech, emphasizing the relationship between speech motor control deficits and phonetic features. Future research could benefit from longitudinal studies tracking changes in VOT over time, offering insights into the progression of dysarthria and aiding the development of more targeted therapeutic interventions

Page(s): 287-304

DOI: 10.33824/PJPR.2025.40.2.17

Published: Journal: Pakistan Journal of Psychological Research, Volume: 40, Issue: 2, Year: 2025

Keywords:

Dysarthria , Therapeutic interventions , speech motor control , acoustic analysis , articulatory disorders , voice onset time VOT

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