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


METHODS
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.
Zajac
David J
DJ
University of North Carolina Craniofacial Center, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. david_zajac@dentistry.unc.edu
Harris
Adrianne A
AA
Roberts
Joanne E
JE
Martin
Gary E
GE
D000293:Adolescent; D001184:Articulation Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D005600:Fragile X Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013060:Speech; D013061:Speech Acoustics; D013062:Speech Articulation Tests / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards