Direct magnitude estimation of articulation rate in boys with fragile X syndrome.

Full Abstract

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(0)) level, (c) sentence-final F(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(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.

Author information

Author/s: Zajac, David J (DJ); Harris, Adrianne A (AA); Roberts, Joanne E (JE); Martin, Gary E (GE);

Affiliation: University of North Carolina Craniofacial Center, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. david_zajac(-atsign-)dentistry.unc.edu

Grants: R01 HD44935 (Agency:NICHD NIH HHS) ; R03 HD40640 (Agency:NICHD NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Journal: Journal of speech, language, and hearing research : JSLHR (J Speech Lang Hear Res), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Oct; vol 52 (issue 5) : pp 1370-9

Dates: Created 2009/10/02; Completed 2009/10/30;

PMID: 19717654, status: MEDLINE (last retrieved date: 10/30/2009)

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