ERIC Number: EJ859460
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009-Oct
Pages: 10
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1092-4388
EISSN: N/A
Direct Magnitude Estimation of Articulation Rate in Boys with Fragile X Syndrome
Zajac, David J.; Harris, Adrianne A.; Roberts, Joanne E.; Martin, Gary E.
Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, v52 n5 p1370-1379 Oct 2009
Purpose: To compare the perceived articulation rate of boys with fragile X syndrome (FXS) with that of chronologically age-matched (CA) boys and to determine segmental and/or prosodic factors that account for perceived rate. Method: Ten listeners used direct magnitude estimation procedures to judge the articulation rates of 7 boys with FXS only, 5 boys with FXS and a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and 12 CA boys during sentence repetition. Sentences had similar articulation rates in syllables per second as determined acoustically. Four segmental/prosodic factors were used to predict perceived rate: (a) percentage consonants correct, (b) overall fundamental frequency (F[subscript 0]) level, (c) sentence-final F[subscript 0] drop, and (d) acoustically determined articulation rate with the final word of the sentence excluded. Results: Boys with FXS and ASD were judged to talk faster than CA controls. Multiple linear regression indicated that articulation rate with the final word of the sentence excluded and sentence-final F[subscript 0] drop accounted for 91% of the variance for perceived rate. Conclusions: Descriptions of speakers with FXS as having fast and/or fluctuating articulation rates may be influenced by autism status. Also, atypical sentence-final prosody may be related to perceived rate in boys with FXS and ASD.
Descriptors: Articulation (Speech), Males, Children, Genetic Disorders, Mental Retardation, Autism, Matched Groups, Suprasegmentals, Sentences, Repetition, Acoustics, Listening, Comparative Analysis
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). 10801 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852. Tel: 800-638-8255; Fax: 301-571-0457; e-mail: subscribe@asha.org; Web site: http://jslhr.asha.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A