Diadochokinetic Syllable Rates Worksheet

Name:________________________________   Age:________    Date:_________

Examiner:_________________________________________________________

 

Instructions: Time the number of seconds it takes your client to complete each task the prescribed number of times. The average number of seconds for children 6 to 13 years of age is reported in the right-hand side of the table.

The standard deviation (SD) from the norm (mean or average) is also found in the table. Subtract the SD from the norm to determine each SD interval. For example, using the /puh/ norm with a 6-year-old, 3.8 (4.8 - 1.0) is one SD, 2.8 (4.8 - 2.5) is two-and-a-half SDs, etc. Therefore, a 6-year-old child who needed the 2.6 seconds to complete the /puh/ sequence would be two SDs below the mean.

Norms in seconds for diadochokinetic syllable rates

                                                                Age:

Task Repetitions Seconds 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
puh 20 _________ 4.8 4.8 4.2 4.0 3.7 3.6 3.4 3.3
tuh 20 _________ 4.9 4.9 4.4 4.1 3.8 3.6 3.5 3.3
kuh 20 _________ 5.5 5.3 4.8 4.6 4.3 4.0 3.9 3.7
    SDs 1.0 1.0 .7 .7 .6 .6 .6 .6

 

Task Repetitions Seconds 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
puhtuhkuh 10 _________ 10.3 10.0 8.3 7.7 7.1 6.5 6.4 5.7
    SDs 2.8 2.8 2.0 2.0 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5

 

Assessing Diadochokinetic Syllable Rates

Diadochokinetic syllable rates are used to evaluate a client's ability to make rapidly alternating speech movements. 

Two primary ways to obtain these measures:

  1.  Count the number of syllable repetitions a client produces within a predetermined number of seconds. For example, how many repetitions of /p^/ can the client produce in 15 seconds? 

  2. Time how many seconds it takes the client to repeat a predetermined number of syllables. For example, how many seconds does it take to produce 20 repetitions of /puh/?

The diadochokinetic worksheet is based on the works of Fletcher (1972, 1978). The norms are based on the second method described above - the total seconds taken to repeat a specific number of syllables. A total of 384 children from 6 to 13 years of age, including 24 boys and 24 girls from each age group, participated in the norming sample.

Before obtaining diadochokinetic syllable rates:

  1. Provide adequate instructions for the tasks, model the target behaviors, and allow the client to practice the tasks.

  2. Then using a stopwatch to keep accurate time, say the word "go."

  3. Count the number of syllables (e.g. (p^/) the client produces.

  4. When the predetermined number of seconds has elapsed, say "stop."

  5. Redo the task if the client stops or slows down intentionally before the allotted time is expired.

  6. After each syllable has been assessed individually, evaluate the client's production of the /puhtuhkuh/ sequence.

  7. Use the "Diadochokinetic Syllable Rates Worksheet" to record the results of your evaluation.

If you are inexperienced or feel unsure of your accuracy, count the productions with a hand-held counter or make dots on a piece of paper for each production, or tape record the test for review at a later time.