[Speech fluency developmental profile in Brazilian Portuguese speakers]

(Perfil evolutivo da fluência da fala de falantes do português brasileiro.)

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND: speech fluency varies from one individual to the next, fluent or stutterer, depending on several factors. Studies that investigate the influence of age on fluency patterns have been identified; however these differences were investigated in isolated age groups. Studies about life span fluency variations were not found. AIM: to verify the speech fluency developmental profile. METHOD: speech samples of 594 fluent participants of both genders, with ages between 2:0 and 99:11 years, speakers of the Brazilian Portuguese language, were analyzed. Participants were grouped as follows: pre-scholars, scholars, early adolescence, late adolescence, adults and elderlies. Speech samples were analyzed according to the Speech Fluency Profile variables and were compared regarding: typology of speech disruptions (typical and less typical), speech rate (words and syllables per minute) and frequency of speech disruptions (percentage of speech discontinuity). RESULTS: although isolated variations were identified, overall there was no significant difference between the age groups for the speech disruption indexes (typical and less typical speech disruptions and percentage of speech discontinuity). Significant differences were observed between the groups when considering speech rate. CONCLUSION: the development of the neurolinguistic system for speech fluency, in terms of speech disruptions, seems to stabilize itself during the first years of life, presenting no alterations during the life span. Indexes of speech rate present variations in the age groups, indicating patterns of acquisition, development, stabilization and degeneration.

Author information

Author/s: Martins, Vanessa de Oliveira (Vde O); Andrade, Claudia Regina Furquim de (CR);

Affiliation: Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas, Universidade de São Paulo, SP, Brazil. vanfonousp(-atsign-)bol.com.br

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: English Abstract; Journal Article

Journal: Pró-fono : revista de atualização científica (Pro Fono), published in Brazil. (Language: por)

Reference: -2008 Jan-Mar; vol 20 (issue 1) : pp 7-12

Dates: Created 2008/04/14; Completed 2009/01/26;

PMID: 18408857, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: 18 Feb 2009 00:00:00)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.