Communication impairments in people with progressive supranuclear palsy: a tutorial

Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a progressive neurological condition, whose main features include supranuclear gaze palsy, frequent falls, bradykinesia, axial rigidity, cognitive decline and communication impairments. Even though communication impairments are early and prominent manifestations, there is a significant lack of research on the nature of these impairments in PSP and the role of speech-language pathologists (SLPs). This tutorial article aims to describe the communication impairments observed in people with PSP; provide clinical guidelines for SLPs when assessing motor speech, language and other communication impairments; and to present facilitation and compensation approaches to treatment for people with PSP. The predominant motor speech impairment is mixed dysarthria, but there is a lack of consensus about the classification of language impairments. The involvement of SLPs in the assessment and treatment of people with PSP should be early, on-going and in collaboration with other health professionals, with the primary focus of maintaining quality of life for these patients and their family members.