Speech and articulatory rates of school-age children in conversation and narrative contexts.
OBJECTIVE
This study provides preliminary reference data for speech and articulatory rates of school-age children in conversational and narrative speaking contexts.


METHODS
Participants included 36 typically developing children in 3 groups of 12 participants at ages 7, 9, and 11 years. Conversational and narrative speech rates were measured in words per minute, syllables per minute, and syllables per second.


RESULTS
Speaking rates increased with age between ages 7 and 9, but rates were similar between ages 9 and 11. Between contexts, only the words per minute measure was significantly higher (faster) in narrative than in conversation.


CONCLUSIONS
These results are important to the assessment, treatment, and management of children with communication disorders in clinical or school settings.
Sturm
Jennifer A
JA
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Communication Sciences & Disorders Department, P.O. Box 413, Enderis Hall 873, Milwaukee, WI 53201-0413, USA.
Seery
Carol H
CH
D002648:Child; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D033262:Narration; D010700:Phonetics; D013060:Speech; D013068:Speech Production Measurement; D014705:Verbal Behavior