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Language impairment in cerebellar ataxia
Author(s) -
Gaalen Judith,
Swart Bert J.M.,
Oostveen Judith,
Knuijt Simone,
Warrenburg Bart P.C.,
Kremer Berry H. P.H
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
movement disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.352
H-Index - 198
eISSN - 1531-8257
pISSN - 0885-3185
DOI - 10.1002/mds.25854
Subject(s) - ataxia , psychology , spinocerebellar ataxia , rating scale , cerebellum , audiology , comprehension , cerebellar ataxia , language disorder , linguistics , medicine , developmental psychology , neuroscience , cognition , philosophy
Background Several studies have suggested that language impairment can be observed in patients with cerebellar pathology. The aim of this study was to investigate language performance in patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 6 (SCA6). Methods We assessed speech and language in 29 SCA6 patients with standardized linquistic tests and correlated this with the severity of ataxia, as quantified by the Scale of Assessment and Rating of Ataxia. Results Individual patients show mild‐to‐moderate linguistic impairment. Linguistic abnormalities were most distinct on the writing and comprehension subtests. A strong correlation between severity of ataxia and linguistic performance was consistently found. Conclusions This study confirms the occurrence of linguistic impairments in patients with cerebellar degenerative diseases, such as SCA6. The relation between linguistic abnormalities and severity of ataxia provides further evidence for a role of the cerebellum in linguistic processing. © 2014 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society