BACKGROUND: Classification of dysarthria types comprises flaccid, spastic, 
ataxic, hypo- and hyperkinetic and mixed dysarthria. This study focussed on the 
ability of neurologists to clinically identify the correct type of dysarthria in 
neurological patients.
METHODS: Eighteen patients with dysarthria and 4 healthy controls were enrolled 
in the study. The gold standard for dysarthria type was the underlying 
neurological disease. Recordings of a standard reading passage and free speech 
were made. Raters were neurologists, residents in neurology and speech 
therapists, whose scores were compared.
RESULTS: Neurologists correctly identified 40% of the recordings, residents 41%, 
and speech therapists 37%. Interrater agreement was fair among all 3 groups; 
intrarater agreement was fair to moderate.
CONCLUSION: This study suggests that neurologists should be aware of the 
unreliability of identifying the dysarthria type without the use of additional 
validated instruments or rating scales in a clinical setting.