Table 1.
Means and standard deviations are reported for characteristics of the operationally defined speaker groups.
| Group | Cognitive function (z score) | Age (years) |
Years post diagnosis |
Years of education |
Depression (BDI-FS) |
Fatigue (FSS) |
Disease severity (EDSS) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M (SD) | M (SD) | M (SD) | M (SD) | M (SD) | M (SD); median | ||
| MSDYS + CI | ≤ −1.50 | 52 (9) | 19 (13) | 16 (2) | 4 (5) | 4 (1) | 4 (1); 4.5 a |
| MSDYS | > −1.50 | 56 (10) | 19 (14) | 14 (2) | 2 (2) | 4 (1) | 5 (1); 6.0 |
| MSCI | ≤ −1.50 | 49 (9) | 11 (11) | 19 (3) | 4 (1) | 3 (4) | 4 (1); 4.0 a |
| MS | > −1.50 | 55 (6) | 15 (6) | 14 (3) | 4 (1) | 1 (1) | 4 (1); 3.5 |
| CON | > −1.50 | 52 (6) | — | 16 (2) | 1 (1) | 2 (1) | — |
Note. Median values are also reported for disease severity. A normalized z score ≤ −1.50 indicated a cognitive deficit in a given cognitive domain. A z score > −1.50 indicated cognition within normal limits. EDSS indicates the mean disease severity of patient and neurologist or trained assistant who administered EDSS for speakers identified at Buffalo General Hospital. BDI-FS = Beck Depression Inventory–Fast Screen; FSS = Fatigue Severity Scale; EDSS = Expanded Disability Status Scale; MSDYS + CI = MS group with dysarthria and cognitive impairment; MSDYS = MS group with dysarthria and intact cognition; MSCI = MS group with cognitive impairment; MS = MS group without dysarthria or cognitive impairment; CON = healthy talkers.
An EDSS score was not available for 1 speaker in the MSCI group and 1 speaker in the MSDYS + CI group. Thus, values are based on a total of 11 speakers for these groups.