Which type of dysarthria is characterized by a breathy voice quality?

• A. Spastic dysarthria
• B. Ataxic dysarthria
• C. Flaccid dysarthria
• D. Mixed dysarthria

Answer: (C)

Flaccid dysarthria is characterized by a breathy voice quality due to weakness or loss of muscle tone in the muscles responsible for speech production. This type of dysarthria occurs when there is damage to the motor neurons that innervate the speech muscles, leading to reduced ability to control airflow and vocal fold tension. As a result, the voice may sound breathy, soft, and have reduced loudness, as the muscles cannot produce adequate closure of the vocal folds during phonation.

In contrast, spastic dysarthria is marked by a strained or harsh voice quality due to increased muscle tone and resistance to movement, while ataxic dysarthria generally results in irregular speech rhythm and prosody due to coordination issues in speech movements. Mixed dysarthria often exhibits features of more than one type, but the hallmark of flaccid dysarthria is indeed the breathy voice quality due to its specific muscle weakness.