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The current study aimed to provide a comprehensive analysis of linguopalatal contact patterns in participants with acquired apraxia of speech (AOS). Tongue-to-palate contacts were recorded for three participants with AOS during consonant singletons and consonant clusters using the Reading Electropalatograph (EPG3) system. Amount and pattern of linguopalatal contact were analysed using qualitative and quantitative analysis methods and the degree of spatial variability was quantified. The results obtained for each of the apraxic speakers were individually compared to those obtained by a control group (n = 5). Misdirected articulatory gestures and distorted spatial configurations for alveolar fricatives were detected in the linguopalatal contact patterns recorded for each of the participants with AOS. Lingual overshoot, right-side dominant contact, and increased spatial variability were also evidenced by some participants. True omission errors were absent. Overall, the combination of qualitative and quantitative analysis techniques proved valuable in providing a comprehensive analysis of linguopalatal contact in AOS. Results provided support for a motoric account of articulatory and prosodic deficits in AOS. (Contains 5 figures and 7 tables.)

The current study aimed to use electromagnetic articulography (EMA) to investigate the effect of increasing word length on lingual kinematics in acquired apraxia of speech (AOS). Tongue-tip and tongue-back movement was recorded for five speakers with AOS and a concomitant aphasia (mean age = 53.6 years; SD = 12.60) during target consonant production (i.e. /t, s, k/ singletons; /kl, sk/ clusters), for one and two syllable stimuli. The results obtained for each of the participants with AOS were individually compared to those obtained by a control group (n = 12; mean age = 52.08 years; SD = 12.52). Results indicated that the participants with AOS exhibited longer movement durations and, in some instances, larger tongue movements during consonant singletons and consonant cluster constituents embedded within mono- and multisyllabic utterances. Despite this, two participants with AOS exhibited a word length effect that was comparable with the control speakers, and possibly indicative of an intact phonological system. (Contains 10 tables and 1 figure.)