Which speech symptom is associated with DAB Classification of flaccid dysarthria?

• A. Monopitch
• B. Breathiness
• C. Imprecise consonants
• D. Short phrases

Answer: (B)

Breathiness is identified as a prominent speech symptom associated with the DAB (Darley, Aronson, and Brown) classification of flaccid dysarthria. This phenomenon results from weakness or paralysis of the vocal fold muscles, which can lead to incomplete closure of the vocal cords during phonation. As a result, air escapes during speech, producing a breathy voice quality that is characteristic of flaccid dysarthria. The other symptoms listed, such as monopitch, imprecise consonants, and short phrases, can be observed in different types of dysarthria but are not as specifically tied to the flaccid subtype as breathiness is. Monopitch may occur due to reduced control of pitch variations but is more closely associated with other dysarthrias like spastic dysarthria. Imprecise consonants often relate to problems in articulatory precision, which can be found in spastic and ataxic dysarthria as well. Short phrases may indicate a combination of factors affecting respiration or timing but are not exclusive to flaccid dysarthria either. Thus, breathiness remains the key symptom highlighting the vocal fold dysfunction identified in this classification.