SPEECH MOTOR CONTROL DISORDER AFTER HIV-INFECTION

We examined the clinical characteristics of six right-handed patients who developed speech motor control disorders after human immunodeficie ncy virus (HIV) infection. They exhibited an ataxic dysarthria, charac terized by irregular articulatory breakdowns in consonant and vowel ti ming; were slow in timed decision-making tasks; and had impaired proce dural learning. Other aspects of the neurologic examination revealed s igns of diffuse CMS involvement including action-intention tremors, at axic gait, and release signs. None developed HIV-associated dementia d uring 1 year of follow-up. Motor speech control disorder appears to be related to a cerebellar dysfunction.