Publications by authors named "Riitta Puhto"
Background: The symptoms and their progression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are typically studied after the diagnosis has been confirmed. However, many people with ALS already have severe dysarthria and loss of adequate speech at the time of diagnosis. Speech-and-language therapy interventions should be targeted timely based on communicative need in ALS.
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- - The study examined cranial nerve symptoms and communication effectiveness in 30 Finnish patients with diagnosed or suspected amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) during their initial visit to a speech-language pathologist.
- - Results indicated that participants with suspected ALS experienced greater deterioration in soft palate function and had a slower speech rate compared to those with diagnosed ALS, highlighting differences in communicative effectiveness between the two groups.
- - The findings suggest that patients with bulbar-onset ALS, particularly those in the suspected category, are at risk for diagnostic delays, emphasizing the need for early speech therapy interventions as soon as bulbar symptoms present.