Classification of Dysarthria based on the Levels of Severity. A Systematic Review

Dysarthria is a neurological speech disorder that can significantly impact affected individuals' communication abilities and overall quality of life. The accurate and objective classification of dysarthria and the determination of its severity are crucial for effective therapeutic intervention. While traditional assessments by speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are common, they are often subjective, time-consuming, and can vary between practitioners. Emerging machine learning-based models have shown the potential to provide a more objective dysarthria assessment, enhancing diagnostic accuracy and reliability. This systematic review aims to comprehensively analyze current methodologies for classifying dysarthria based on severity levels. Specifically, this review will focus on determining the most effective set and type of features that can be used for automatic patient classification and evaluating the best AI techniques for this purpose. We will systematically review the literature on the automatic classification of dysarthria severity levels. Sources of information will include electronic databases and grey literature. Selection criteria will be established based on relevance to the research questions. Data extraction will include methodologies used, the type of features extracted for classification, and AI techniques employed. The findings of this systematic review will contribute to the current understanding of dysarthria classification, inform future research, and support the development of improved diagnostic tools. The implications of these findings could be significant in advancing patient care and improving therapeutic outcomes for individuals affected by dysarthria.