Variations in speech fluency of Brazilian Portuguese speakers: four study / Variação da fluência da fala em falantes do português brasileiro: quatro estudos

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2007

RESUMO

Speech fluency varies from one individual to the next, fluent or stutterer, depending on several factors. The purpose of the present Thesis was to verify variations in speech fluency of Brazilian Portuguese speakers. Participants of this study were 594 fluent individuals, 336 female and 258 male, with ages between 2:0 and 99:11 years, residents in the city of São Paulo. The analyzed fluency variables were: typology of speech disruption, speech rate and percentage of speech discontinuity. This Thesis was divided in four studies. The first study had as a purpose to verify the development profile of speech fluency. According to the results, the speech typology pattern does not present great variability in the different age groups. Speech rate, however, varies along the stages of life suggesting a pattern of acquisition, development, stabilization and deterioration. The second study had as a purpose to investigate fluency variations according to gender and phases of adolescence (early adolescence - 12 to 14 years; and late adolescence - 15 to 17 years). Fluency variables did not present variations according to gender, but did present differences - all variables - regarding the phases of adolescence. A decrease in speech disruptions is observed as well as an increase in speech rate with the increase in age. The third study has as a purpose to verify the influence of gender and literacy (fundamental, average and higher education) in the speech fluency of adults. According to the results, gender and literacy are not determinant factors for the speech fluency of fluent adults. An isolated variation is observed for interjection, revision and prolongation. Individuals with higher education present fewer interjections and revisions, and more prolongations. The fourth study had as a purpose to verify the Fluency Profile of elderlies regarding all of the assessed parameters. Elderlies were compared between themselves regarding the decades of life and by the division elderlies and elderlies with more than 80 years of age. According to the results, a statistically significant increase in speech disruptions is observed as well as a decrease in speech rate for elderlies more than 80 years old. Overall, age seems to be a determinant factor for speech fluency, especially in terms of speech rate. Gender and literacy seem to be irrelevant.

ASSUNTO(S)

growth and development speech fala fonoaudiologia envelhecimento speech-language pathology crescimento e desenvolvimento medida da produção de fala speech production measurements aging

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