Blumberger, J., Sullivan, S.J., & Clement, N. (1995). Diadochokinetic rate in persons with traumatic brain injury. Brain Injury, 9(8),797-804.
Type of
Study
Research study with controls
Subjects 21 males, 7 females; ages 16-68; 1.8-26.7 months post-onset
Gender-matched, age-matched, primary language-matched controls
Diagnoses TBI
Normal controls
Speech
Condition
Dysarthria (9)
No dysarthria (19)
Purpose To document the diadochokinetic rate in persons with TBI
To determine which diadochokinetic rate variables distinguish the TBI subjects from their matched controls

To determine the test-retest reliability of the diadochokinetic rate variables
Methods Diadochokinetic rate was measured using the Speech Performance Measurement System (SPMS) which is an acoustic, computer-driven data acquisition and management system
The subject's acoustic signal was recorded twice, and the best result was assessed for the number of syllables per second

Diadochokinetic rate was measured for these 16 syllables repeated as fast as possible for 5 seconds: pa, ba, fa, va, th, tha, ta, da, ye, ya, ka, ga, sa, na, ch, ja

Twelve subjects were retested approximately a week later to determine test-retest reliability
Results 13/16 of the diadochokinetic rate variables for the TBI group and 12/16 for the control group had at least substantial test-retest reliability
There are differences in diadochokinetic rate for people with and without dysarthria and with TBI

The diadochokinetic rate variables cha, ta, da, and ba determined group membership in 82% of the cases
Treatment
Implications
Only cha, ta, da, and ba need to be used diagnostically in assessing people with TBI
Diadochokinetic rate is important in quantitatively assessing motor speech deficits in TBI
 
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