Jean SAWYER1, Heidi M. HARBERS2, and Takahisa NAGASE3
1Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois jsawyer@ilstu.edu
2Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois hmharbe@ilstu.edu
3Midstate College, Peoria, Illinois tnagase@midstate.edu
Abstract. The characteristics of slower articulation rate that facilitate fluency have not been identified. Three 15-minute conversations between 17 preschool children who stutter and their caregivers were recorded at three different articulation rates for the caregivers. The mean number of disfluencies in the children’s speech was significantly smaller during slower rates of the caregivers. An analysis of several measures of language output revealed that children’s language was largely unchanged. Children reduced their number of utterances when caregivers’ rates were slow. Caregivers’ language changed most when articulation was slowed, and included fewer utterances, smaller mean length of utterance, and less lexical diversity.
To read more, an active membership is required. Please log in or click here to purchase a membership
Browse the current issue