Acoustic Analysis of Accurate Word Stress Patterning in Patients With Apraxia of Speech and Broca's Aphasia

Stress-marking strategies employed by subjects with apraxia of speech were compared to those of matched normal controls, for real disyllabic words produced in isolation and in sentences, across acoustic variables of fundamental frequency, syllable duration, and vocal intensity. Heterogeneity of stress marking in terms of acoustic trading relationships was observed in both the apraxic and normal subjects. Strategies varied depending on whether words were produced in isolation or in sentences, and whether the first or second syllable was stressed. Allowing for marked durational increases in apraxia, there were negligible differences in stress marking between groups. However, some idiosyncratic strategies and a tendency toward reduced durational contrast between stressed and unstressed syllables were observed.

Key Words: apraxia of speech, word stress, acoustic analysis

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