Which dysarthria type is associated with Parkinson's Disease?

• A. Hyperkinetic
• B. Hypokinetic
• C. Spastic
• D. Flaccid

Answer: (B)

Parkinson's disease most often leads to hypokinetic dysarthria. This type arises when basal ganglia circuits are impaired, causing reduced movement amplitude and initiation (bradykinesia and rigidity). In speech, that means articulators move with a small, insufficient range, giving a soft voice (hypophonia), a monotone pitch, and reduced loudness. Articulation tends to be imprecise (poorly enunciated consonants), and speech may have a shortened phrase length or, at times, a faster or more rushed feel as the pattern of timing and rhythm is disrupted. While other dysarthria patterns point to different neural issues (for example, spastic from UMN damage, flaccid from LMN damage, hyperkinetic from involuntary movements), the classic association with Parkinson's is hypokinetic dysarthria.