Comparing diadochokinetic performances of stuttering and non-stuttering children between 7-12 ages

Abstract

Introduction: It is important to evaluate oral motor skills, make appropriate diagnosis and develop appropriate intervention plans for individuals who stutter. One of the measures used to evaluate oral motor skills is diadochokinesia (DDK). Diadochokinesia or diadochokinesis is the ability to make antagonistic movements in quick succession, alternately bringing a limb into opposite positions, as of flexion and extension or of pronation and supination. Diadochokinetic analysis examines the speed, accuracy and continuity measures of speech production in monosyllabic /p Lambda/, /t Lambda/, /k Lambda/and multisyllabic /p Lambda t Lambda k Lambda/ sequences. Purpose: This study aimed to compare the diadokinetic performance of children aged 7-12 with and without stuttering. Method: Participants were composed of girls and boys with and without stuttering from each age group. The data of the diadokinetic measurements of stuttering children were compared to the data of the typically developing children. Results: It was found that there was a significant difference in favor of children who do not stutter during production of /p Lambda/ and /k Lambda/ syllables. Syllable repetition rates are quicker in these syllables. Results of the research between the genders found there was a significant difference in favor of girls. The average of girls is higher than males. In addition, there was a significance in favor of 10-12 age groups for /p Lambda/ syllable that syllable repetition rate is slower in these groups.