title: An on-line imitative test of speech-pattern contrast perception (OlimSpac): developmental effects in normally hearing children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The goal was to assess the effects of maturation and phonological development on performance, by normally hearing children, on an imitative test of auditory capacity (On-Line Imitative Test of Speech-Pattern Contrast Perception [OlimSpac]; Boothroyd, Eisenberg, & Martinez, 2006; Eisenberg, Martinez, & Boothroyd, 2003, 2007).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four hearing children (aged between 1;8 [years;months] and 6;7) were asked to imitate nonword utterances. Responses were evaluated by a blinded listener in an 8-alternative forced-choice task, giving information on the children's ability to convey, by imitation, information about 6 binary phonemic contrasts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four children declined participation. Among 30 children aged 2;7 or older, performance improved significantly with age and varied with contrast. All children 3 years of age or older attained passing scores (7 or 8 correct responses in 8 binary trials) on at least 5 of the 6 contrasts. Post-alveolar consonant place was the contrast most often failed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When evaluated on a pass/fail basis, normally hearing children 3 years of age or older are likely to demonstrate auditory perception of most phonemic contrasts using this imitative test. Phonological development and other task-related factors have only a modest effect on performance by normally hearing children after 3 years of age. The effects of hearing loss, hearing age, sensory assistance, and listening experience in children with hearing loss remain to be determined.
authors.affiliation: San Diego State University, Department of Speech, Language, Hearing Sciences, 2550 Brant Street, San Diego, CA 92101, USA. aboothroyd@cox.net
authors.forename: Arthur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boothroyd
authors.forename: Laurie S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Eisenberg
authors.forename: Amy S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Martinez
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D002648:Child; D002663:Child Language; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007100:Imitative Behavior; D007223:Infant; D007807:Language Tests; D008297:Male; D010700:Phonetics; D013060:Speech; D013067:Speech Perception; D013068:Speech Production Measurement