Eye Movements in Patients with Speech Dyspraxia

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Abstract
Saccades, smooth pursuit and angular acceleration induced nystagmus were analyzed quantitatively in 10 patients with speech dyspraxia. The saccades were less accurate, had a prolonged reaction time and showed a tendency to reduced peak velocity, though only contralateral to the lesion. Smooth pursuit was impaired, with a reduction in maximum velocity gain. The vestibular responses tended to be hyperactive, indicating facilitated brain-stem reflexes. A lesion in the frontal eye field can produce various oculomotor disturbances, in which the triggering of eye movements and their control, and pacing of the various movement sequences are disturbed. Anticipation of a movement pattern requiring volition may be greatly impaired.