Abstract
This article reviews the occurrence of motor speech disorders of dysarthria and apraxia
of speech following closed head injury and other traumatic brain injuries in adults
as they apply to sport concussion and related trauma. Athletic sideline and speech-language
pathology screenings are considered. Procedures for clinical assessment and diagnosis
of motor speech disorder, most particularly dysarthria, are discussed with special
reference to closed head injury. Included are the evaluation components of cranial
nerve and speech mechanism examination, nonspeech musculature examination, perceptual
and instrumental assessment procedures, quasi-standardized testing for dysarthria,
and the determination of restrictions of participation in everyday life activities.
The resultant output of such an evaluation is described in depth. Future directions
for clinical research on motor speech disorders following sports concussion are also
briefly considered.
Keywords
Motor speech disorders - concussion - traumatic brain injury - assessment and diagnosis
