Increases in Cognitive and Linguistic Processing Primarily Account for Increases in Speaking Rate with Age

Wiley-Blackwell. 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148. Tel: 800-835-6770; Tel: 781-388-8598; Fax: 781-388-8232; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/

Y

14

Language Processing; Cognitive Processes; Age Differences; Articulation (Speech); Young Adults; Task Analysis; Speech Communication; Developmental Stages; Psychomotor Skills; Motor Development; Correlation; Children; Adolescents

10.1111/cdev.12052

0009-3920

Age-related increases of speaking rate are not fully understood, but have been attributed to gains in biologic factors and learned skills that support speech production. This study investigated developmental changes in speaking rate and articulatory kinematics of participants aged 4 ("N" = 7), 7 ("N" = 10), 10 ("N" = 9), 13 ("N" = 7), 16 ("N" = 9) years, and young adults ("N" = 11) in speaking tasks varying in task demands. Speaking rate increased with age, with decreases in pauses and articulator displacements but not increases in articulator movement speed. Movement speed did not appear to constrain the speaking. Rather, age-related increases in speaking rate are due to gains in cognitive and linguistic processing and speech motor control. (Contains 4 tables and 6 figures.)

As Provided

51

2014

EJ1014528