Reviewer: Geralyn M. Schulz, PhD, CCC-SLP(George Washington University)
Description: This is the second edition of this highly influential book by one of the leading authorities in motor speech disorders. The first edition was published in 1995 and, as the author notes, the second edition was necessary because of the huge increase in published research reflecting the vast amount of knowledge gained in the area of clinical neurology as it relates to speech motor disorders.
Purpose: According to the author, the purpose is to address the neurologic bases of speech, the speech disorders that can occur as a result of damage to the nervous system, and the ways in which motor speech disorders can be diagnosed, assessed, and managed. This is a project worthy of his expertise and his clinical acumen. Although a large undertaking, this book meets the author's objectives. I have seen Professor Duffy lecture on this topic and there is no better person to deliver this information to practicing speech language pathologists.
Audience: Written primarily for graduate students and practicing speech language pathologists, the book is also appropriate for researchers in speech language pathology as well as interested persons in neurology, neuropsychology, and rehabilitation medicine. Such a wide audience demands an extremely clear, accurate presentation of the material and Professor Duffy easily achieves this goal.
Features: The book covers the neurologic bases of acquired speech production disorders and then covers each of the major traditional categories of these disorders (flaccid, spastic, ataxic, hypokinetic, hyperkinetic) and the newer additions to this scheme (unilateral upper motor neuron, apraxia of speech, mixed dysarthrias, neurogenic mutism, psychogenic and nonorganic speech disorders). It also spends considerable time on the management of these disorders. These additions present a unique perspective on motor speech disorders and provide readers with the wealth of experience that Professor Duffy has acquired. The book is filled with case examples (which in future editions should be presented on a DVD) and tables that have essential information on each of the subtypes of motor speech disorders.
Assessment: This is the consummate book in the field of dysarthria written by a world-renowned clinician. Other books in the field cannot compare to its depth and scope. It is an invaluable textbook and a must-have for anyone dealing with neurologic speech disorders whether they are university professors, students, practicing clinicians, or medical personnel. Even if you have the first edition, you need to purchase the second edition and, no doubt, the third when (if) it comes out as knowledge in this field increases rapidly.
