The Effect of Intrathecal Baclofen on Functional Intelligibility of Speech

Changes in speech intelligibility consequent to intrathecal administration of baclofen are measured in a cerebral palsy patient (male, aged 28), using the Frenchay Dysarthria Assessment described by P. M. Enderby (1983) & K. M. Yorkston & D. R. Beukelman's Assessment of Functional Intelligibility of Dysarthric Speech (1981). Measurements taken before administration & after doses of 25 mg & 100 mg show an increase in sentence intelligibility from 18% to 65%, a significant decrease in speech rate & increase in intelligible words per minute, & no change in single-word intelligibility; these effects were obtained in the lower dose. 5 References. J. Hitchcock