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Motor-Speech Performance in Very Old Speakers: Associations with Physio-Anatomical and Cognitive-Linguistic Factors

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Title: Motor-Speech Performance in Very Old Speakers: Associations with Physio-Anatomical and Cognitive-Linguistic Factors
Language: English
Authors: Sonja Alantie (ORCID 0000-0002-2090-2023), Tanja Makkonen (ORCID 0000-0001-6358-5876), Kati Renvall (ORCID 0000-0002-3329-4602)
Source: International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders. 2025 60(6).
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 13
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Older Adults, Aging (Individuals), Psychomotor Skills, Language Rhythm, Speech Skills, Speech Communication, Human Body, Language Skills, Cognitive Ability, Educational Background
Geographic Terms: Finland
DOI: 10.1111/1460-6984.70137
ISSN: 1368-2822
1460-6984
Abstract: Background: Motor-speech skills slow down with age, but health care professionals lack normative data, especially on the vastly growing population of very old (VO) speakers. The execution of different motor-speech tasks requires both fine-motoric and cognitive abilities. Aims: To study the performance on oral diadochokinetic (DDK) rate and narrative speech tempo in typically ageing 80-100-year-old speakers and to investigate whether they are predicted by age, dentition, hearing, cognitive status, language skills or educational level. Methods: This cross-sectional study comprises 50 typically ageing VO Finnish speakers. Their motor-speech performance was evaluated by alternating motion rate (AMR) syllables /pa/, /ta/ and /ka/ and sequential motion rate (SMR) syllable sequence /pataka/ and two speech tempo parameters (speaking and articulation rate) in semi-spontaneous narrative. The association between task performance and background variables was studied by multiple linear regression analysis. Results: The VO speakers' normative performance in DDK, speaking and articulation rates was predicted by physio-anatomical and cognitive-linguistic factors. Older age within the 80-100-year range was associated only with slower execution of the SMR task. Wearing dentures predicted slower tempo in the AMR tasks and articulation rate. The highest educational level predicted slower tempo in the AMR tasks. Good language skills were positively associated with motor-speech performance: Better phonemic fluency predicted faster AMR /pa/ and SMR /pataka/, and a higher Western Aphasia Battery Aphasia Quotient predicted a faster speaking rate. Conclusions: The VO speakers had relatively well-preserved motor-speech skills. Consistent with previous studies, the mean DDK, speaking and articulation rates were, nevertheless, slower in the VO speakers than in younger speakers in prior research. As a novel finding, SMR was slower than AMR in the VO speakers, which deviates from the trend observed in Finnish adults and younger elderly. This study suggests that natural teeth, younger age and good language skills safeguard the motor-speech skills from slowing down. However, it seems characteristic for the most highly educated VO speakers to perform slower than peers in the AMR tasks. Contribution: The results of this study will help to identify the manifestations of typical ageing. They also give insight into the life-long evolution of speech skills and into the relationship between the motoric and linguistic facets of speech.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1489784
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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PubType: Academic Journal
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  Group: Ti
  Data: Motor-Speech Performance in Very Old Speakers: Associations with Physio-Anatomical and Cognitive-Linguistic Factors
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  Data: English
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sonja+Alantie%22">Sonja Alantie</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2090-2023">0000-0002-2090-2023</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tanja+Makkonen%22">Tanja Makkonen</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6358-5876">0000-0001-6358-5876</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kati+Renvall%22">Kati Renvall</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3329-4602">0000-0002-3329-4602</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22International+Journal+of+Language+%26+Communication+Disorders%22"><i>International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders</i></searchLink>. 2025 60(6).
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  Data: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 13
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  Data: 2025
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Older+Adults%22">Older Adults</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Aging+%28Individuals%29%22">Aging (Individuals)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychomotor+Skills%22">Psychomotor Skills</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Rhythm%22">Language Rhythm</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Speech+Skills%22">Speech Skills</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Speech+Communication%22">Speech Communication</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Human+Body%22">Human Body</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Skills%22">Language Skills</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cognitive+Ability%22">Cognitive Ability</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Background%22">Educational Background</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Finland%22">Finland</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1111/1460-6984.70137
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 1368-2822<br />1460-6984
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Background: Motor-speech skills slow down with age, but health care professionals lack normative data, especially on the vastly growing population of very old (VO) speakers. The execution of different motor-speech tasks requires both fine-motoric and cognitive abilities. Aims: To study the performance on oral diadochokinetic (DDK) rate and narrative speech tempo in typically ageing 80-100-year-old speakers and to investigate whether they are predicted by age, dentition, hearing, cognitive status, language skills or educational level. Methods: This cross-sectional study comprises 50 typically ageing VO Finnish speakers. Their motor-speech performance was evaluated by alternating motion rate (AMR) syllables /pa/, /ta/ and /ka/ and sequential motion rate (SMR) syllable sequence /pataka/ and two speech tempo parameters (speaking and articulation rate) in semi-spontaneous narrative. The association between task performance and background variables was studied by multiple linear regression analysis. Results: The VO speakers' normative performance in DDK, speaking and articulation rates was predicted by physio-anatomical and cognitive-linguistic factors. Older age within the 80-100-year range was associated only with slower execution of the SMR task. Wearing dentures predicted slower tempo in the AMR tasks and articulation rate. The highest educational level predicted slower tempo in the AMR tasks. Good language skills were positively associated with motor-speech performance: Better phonemic fluency predicted faster AMR /pa/ and SMR /pataka/, and a higher Western Aphasia Battery Aphasia Quotient predicted a faster speaking rate. Conclusions: The VO speakers had relatively well-preserved motor-speech skills. Consistent with previous studies, the mean DDK, speaking and articulation rates were, nevertheless, slower in the VO speakers than in younger speakers in prior research. As a novel finding, SMR was slower than AMR in the VO speakers, which deviates from the trend observed in Finnish adults and younger elderly. This study suggests that natural teeth, younger age and good language skills safeguard the motor-speech skills from slowing down. However, it seems characteristic for the most highly educated VO speakers to perform slower than peers in the AMR tasks. Contribution: The results of this study will help to identify the manifestations of typical ageing. They also give insight into the life-long evolution of speech skills and into the relationship between the motoric and linguistic facets of speech.
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  Data: EJ1489784
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        Value: 10.1111/1460-6984.70137
    Languages:
      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 13
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Older Adults
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      – SubjectFull: Aging (Individuals)
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      – SubjectFull: Language Rhythm
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      – SubjectFull: Speech Skills
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      – SubjectFull: Speech Communication
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      – SubjectFull: Human Body
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      – SubjectFull: Finland
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      – TitleFull: Motor-Speech Performance in Very Old Speakers: Associations with Physio-Anatomical and Cognitive-Linguistic Factors
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