Rate of speech: norm, changes, diagnostic and therapeutic measures

Article:

Rate of speech is a sign of speech function, which facilitates the perception of heard information by others. Changes in speech rate include slowing down, speeding up, and stuttering. An incorrect speech rate can impede the development and learning of children, reduce the quality of life, and worsen a person’s social adaptation. Patients with accelerated, slow speech or stuttering require mandatory correction of speech defects. For children, therapy is prescribed as early as possible to prevent developmental delays.

Characteristics of speech tempo, types of speed disorders of speech function

Speech tempo is a characteristic property of speech that reflects the speed at which sounds are produced during a conversation. Speech tempo may be disrupted in the form of acceleration or deceleration, as well as stuttering. It depends on the speed of pronunciation of sound units that follow each other, as well as on the number and duration of pauses between words or sentences. The optimal speech rate for a healthy child or adult is 9-14 sound units per second. If a healthy patient increases the speed of speech, the frequency of pronouncing sound units increases to 15-20. At the same time, speech remains intelligible.

Types of changes:

Tahilalia.
Bradylalia.
Stuttering.

Preschoolers have a tendency to accelerate speech, which can be explained by the immaturity of the inhibitory mechanisms of the brain and reduced control over speech. The reason for the increase in the rate of speech may be haste in speech among family members. In this case, the child gets used to speaking quickly. During puberty, the speed of sound reproduction may increase further. In patients with neuroses and other psychiatric diseases, rapid speech often provokes stuttering.

Increasing the speed of sound reproduction in a child inhibits the development of speech function. This leads to incorrect sound pronunciation and decreased intelligibility of words. If help is not provided in time, the patient will speak incorrectly and quickly throughout his life.

The concept of tachylalia, clinical manifestations of pathology, etiology

Tahilalia is an acceleration of speech with a frequency of 20-30 sound units. The disease develops due to changes in the functioning of the extrapyramidal system. According to scientist D. Weiss, accelerated speech provokes stuttering. Tachylalia can be inherited.

M.E. Khvattsev associates the occurrence of rapid speech with pathology of the articulatory apparatus, incorrect speech of relatives, untimely correction of the child’s speech function, and attention deficit. A. Liebmann considered the cause of tachylalia to be a lack of motor skills and auditory perception.

A patient with tachylalia speaks very quickly, making it difficult to concentrate. During a conversation, the child appears to hesitate, repeat what has already been said, swallow sounds, replace syllables, and unclear construction of phrases and sentences. But, if you draw the child’s attention to the incorrectness of speech, all errors disappear. Symptoms may intensify with excitement, while talking with strangers, during an argument, or during public speaking.

The patient experiences changes in writing and reading. Children with accelerated speech rearrange syllables and letters while writing, and replace words with similar sounds and spellings. The movements of patients with tachylalia are fast and abrupt. During sleep, the patient may rush around the bed. Many patients experience tics, hyperactivity syndrome, memory and attention deficits.

A child with tachylalia is excitable and quick-tempered. When excited, the patient experiences redness of the skin on the face, sweating, and coldness of the extremities. The patient is often uncontrollable and undisciplined. Such a child has a reduced ability to learn at school.

An increase in the rate of speech is accompanied by changes in the motor sphere, autonomics, and mental processes. The patient may also experience a lack of willpower and a disturbance in the emotional sphere.

The concept of bradyllalia, clinical manifestations

Bradylalia is a pathology of speech function in which the patient speaks at a slow pace (less than 9-14 sound units per second). There are long pauses between words and sentences, words are greatly stretched out during their reproduction. The disease can occur on its own or be a symptom of an underlying disease: nervous system pathology, head injury, brain tumor. When slow speech is a symptom of another disease, the patient experiences inhibition of motor function, asthenia, lethargy, and weakness. On its own, bradyllia occurs in slow and phlegmatic children and patients living in northern latitudes.

Speech signs of bradyllalia include slow speech, leisurely reading and writing. The child reads monotonously with large intervals between words and sentences, words are stretched out. A patient with bradyllalia sometimes produces sounds with a nasal tone. It is very difficult for others to perceive the patient’s conversation, as attention decreases, fatigue and tension arise due to too slow pronunciation.

Non-speech signs of a reduced speech rate are characterized by a decrease in motor function (fine motor skills, general movements, facial expressions). The patient's movements are slow, poorly coordinated, incomplete, awkward. The patient has practically no facial expressions. Patients have impaired speech perception, decreased attention, memory, and impaired thinking.

Patients have poor spatial orientation and find it difficult to complete any instructions or tasks the first time. Children with slow speech have difficulty switching from one subject to another.

Concept of stuttering, clinical symptoms

Stuttering in speech therapy is a speech pathology in which the rhythm, tempo, and fluency of speech are changed due to convulsive contractile activity of the muscular apparatus that carries out articulation. Pathology manifests itself in childhood and puberty. Most often, the disease begins to manifest itself at 2-5 years of age.

Stuttering is caused by muscle spasms. They can be tonic or clonic. Tonic spasms make it difficult to move from one sound to another. Clonic seizures provoke the repetition of words, syllables and sound units.

The causes of stuttering are:

Immaturity of the nervous system.
Injuries in utero, during the birth of a baby.
Mental trauma.
Bilingualism in the family.
Increased development of speech function, which does not correspond to the patient’s age.
The presence of a person who stutters in the child’s environment.

Stuttering has several periods of formation. The initial stage of the disease is characterized by a very rare disturbance in the fluency of conversation. In this case, stuttering occurs only with strong excitement, anxiety, and excitement. At an early stage, the child does not realize the presence of a defect in speech function.

At the second stage of the disease formation, the process becomes chronic. The patient is aware of the presence of stuttering, but is not afraid to talk. At the third stage of pathology development, the smoothness of conversation is noticeably disrupted. It is difficult for the patient to reproduce sounds, but there is a desire to talk, and the patient does not develop fear when talking.

The fourth stage of stuttering is considered the most difficult. The patient tries to talk less, as he feels very uncomfortable during speech. Fear of speech is present, which affects the child’s psychology. Patients' communication suffers. Such patients have difficulty studying and working.

Causes of tachylalia

The causes of the pathology are various. It may be based on a genetic predisposition; if one of your close relatives suffered from tachylalia, then the risk of its development increases. Other causes and predisposing factors:

There may be an incorrect formation of the child's speech
; children may try to imitate adults in this way.
Neurological pathologies
– brain tumors, traumatic brain injuries, consequences of neuroinfection and surgical treatment of the brain. The cause of tachylalia can be stroke, epilepsy, chorea.
Mental disorders
- organic pathologies, schizophrenia, manic-depressive psychosis.

Children with increased physical activity, hyperactivity syndrome and lack of attention are at risk.

Diagnostic measures

Diagnosis of speech dysfunction (tachylalia, bradylalia, stuttering) includes identifying the cause of the disease. The child is referred to a neurologist. The neurologist conducts an examination, collects anamnestic data (speech function of relatives, pathologies of pregnancy and childbirth), prescribes an examination (electroencephalogram, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound examination of blood vessels and other techniques). If there are mental traumas that contribute to the occurrence of stuttering, the patient is referred to a psychologist. After the examination is completed, a speech therapist works with the child by specialized specialists.

The speech therapist also collects anamnestic data on the speech characteristics of relatives, looks at the examination results, and conducts a speech therapy study. The specialist determines the state of the child’s motor activity (general, speech), evaluates speech function (quality of pronunciation of sounds), rate of speech: fast, slow, stuttering. It is also important for a speech therapist to know the state of the articulatory apparatus and facial muscles. If the child can write and read, the specialist assesses the state of writing and reading (speed, correctness of words, presence of pauses in sentences, presence of stuttering, hesitation during reading, speed and correctness of writing words and sentences). At the end of the examination, the speech therapist draws up a speech therapy report.

Human voice timbre

High pitched voice

They are disapprovingly called shrill, and all sorts of shortcomings are attributed to its owners. If we remember teenagers whose voices regularly “grow”, it becomes obvious that this is a sign of poor self-control. Situationally, a voice that breaks into falsetto indicates strong excitement, excitement or fear.

Low timbre of voice

is perceived by people as a symbol of reliability, strength and dignity. In fact, its owners are distinguished by self-confidence. They know their worth, are thorough and not fussy. Typically, a low voice timbre is conducive to confidential communication, but an artificially low one seems insincere.

What is the timbre of the voice?

Therapeutic measures

Treatment measures include eliminating the causes of speech dysfunction, as well as corrective work. If a child has a pathology that has caused a change in speech, he is first prescribed a course of treatment. Upon completion of therapy for the underlying disease, the patient is referred to a speech therapist. The speech therapist draws up a plan for speech therapy sessions. Correction is carried out both at home and in educational institutions. The number of classes is determined by the severity of speech disorders.

For bradyllalia, speech therapy classes are aimed at developing a faster pace of conversation and training the articulatory and motor apparatus. The speech therapist teaches the child to write, read, and clearly pronounce phrases and sentences faster. The classes train memory and attention. Outdoor games, skits, and dialogues are actively used, which help accelerate the pace of speech function. A good effect from the correction can be expected after 4 weeks. During a monthly course of therapy, speech speed becomes faster and pronunciation becomes clearer.

Children with slow speech need to conduct independent studies at home and control their conversation.

When treating tachylalia, a speech therapist conducts classes that include breathing training (slow, even), reading, and orderly, calm speech. The specialist teaches the child to work with a team, organizing performances in front of a group of people or children. During classes, they must develop general, auditory attention and train diction. The course of treatment for preschoolers and primary school students is 6-12 months.

It is better to correct tachylalia as early as possible (before 5 years of age), since therapy is less effective during puberty.

Stuttering correction is carried out at home and in the speech therapist's office. Family members need to avoid conflict and speak slowly and clearly. During treatment, it is better to refrain from visiting kindergarten for 2 months, events, and holidays, so as not to excite the patient. The correction course includes physical activity (running, swimming, cycling). During classes, you need to practice counting (count clothespins by attaching them to paper cut out in the shape of a circle), and use silent games. For correction, tongue twisters, gymnastics for the articulation apparatus, and breathing exercises are used.

Correction and treatment

Correction of tachylalia can take from 3 months to 1 year. In case of severe organic pathologies, it is possible that complete recovery is impossible. Neurologists, psychotherapists, and psychiatrists are involved in correction.

Medicines are taken only as prescribed by a doctor. The prescriptions themselves depend on the underlying pathology. For neurological diseases, nootropics (Ceraxon, Cavinton, Alphacholine, Cerebrolysin, Cerepro), B vitamins, muscle relaxants (Baclofen) are used. For epilepsy, regimens from various groups of anticonvulsants are selected (Lamotrigine, Depakine, Carbamazepine, Zeptol).

For mental pathologies, a treatment regimen is selected, which may consist of antidepressants, anti-anxiety and antipsychotic drugs. Psychotherapy sessions are important to help you adapt to social life.

Patients are prescribed physical therapy, physiotherapy, and balneotherapy. Neurosedative massage is also performed, which leads to deep relaxation of the body. The procedure calms patients and has a positive effect on well-being in cases of depression.

The speech therapist teaches the patient special exercises. For tachylalia, specialists prescribe speech gymnastics and play recordings of normal speech rates for patients. Patients must imitate and repeat words and sentences. Group therapy sessions may be used. Speech therapy rhythm exercises show good results.

Children develop their thinking by forcing them to retell texts according to plan, while maintaining a normal speech rate. The speech therapist can begin a phrase or sentence, and the patient must finish it. Children are monitored throughout the year, as tachylalia can recur.

Manner of speaking

People who are ready to sacrifice their own interests in order to earn the affection of those around them usually speak softly and quietly.
An overly self-confident person speaks loudly and harshly, sharply and shrilly. He overestimates himself and his own abilities, so what he says is often at odds with reality.
Conceited people speak clearly, assertively, with pressure, sometimes in chopped words. They are arrogant and selfish, demanding recognition and respect from the people around them.
A person who prefers to live in the world of his own fantasies, where he is successful and significant, speaks quickly, indistinctly, hastily, uncollectively. He always remains a child who believes that one day everything will be different and his dreams will come true.
Loud and clear speech is characteristic of energetic people.
Words spoken loudly and quickly are usually perceived as a direct threat.
A person begins to speak softly and quickly in a state of inspiration.
A soft and clear manner of speaking indicates a person’s caution and prudence.
A person who feels the need for security speaks softly and slowly.
A person who is characterized by a fear of failure speaks quietly and indistinctly.

Manner of conversation
Based on all this, certain conclusions can be drawn about a person. About his character, demeanor and reliability. That’s why it’s so important to pay special attention to the delivery of your speech.

It should be noted that all of the above characteristics of speech are amenable to conscious regulation, which means they can be used as a tool of manipulation.

We can achieve our goals more successfully by learning to control our own speech. But we shouldn’t forget that the people around us can also use it. Therefore, hasty conclusions drawn on the basis of a limited amount of information may be erroneous. Only long-term and careful observation can enable us to correctly determine with whom we are dealing.

Human speech volume

This characteristic of speech is very contradictory. So, for example, a loud voice may indicate self-confidence, openness and sociability, if it is always characteristic of a person, or it may indicate anxiety, an excited state, fear and self-doubt, if it manifests itself situationally.

A quiet voice is usually a sign of a gentle character, restraint, and sometimes some unemotionality and lethargy. However, you need to keep in mind that there are people who go almost to a whisper in a state of rage. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor what voice volume is usually characteristic of a person.

A person who always speaks at approximately the same volume is most likely inclined to hide his own emotions and experiences, is restrained and balanced.

Speech volume

Clarity of pronunciation

Clarity of pronunciation is an indicator of internal discipline and the desire to clearly present one's position.

Unclear pronunciation (muttering, muttering, etc.) is a manifestation of a disrespectful attitude towards the interlocutor - a person does not care about making it easy for others to hear him. Such people are characterized by a tendency to suppress their emotional reactions.
Unclear and vague pronunciation speaks of softness, compliance and weakness of will.
Clear, precise pronunciation of words indicates the calmness and rationalism of the interlocutor.
If our interlocutor makes practically no open sounds, speaks with his mouth half-closed, then most likely we are dealing with a person for whom it is very important to keep his emotions under constant control. It is important not to confuse this option with another - if a person purses his lips during a conversation and his face takes on an arrogant expression, then this indicates his arrogance and disrespectful attitude towards people.

Clarity of words pronunciation

Prevention

If you follow the recommendations of observing specialists and adequate work by parents at home, the disorder can be significantly reduced.
The outcome of therapy largely depends on the form of tachylalia, the presence of concomitant neurological diseases, the child’s environmental conditions and other individual factors. There are no methods for preventing speech disorders that guarantee 100% protection.

Measures to prevent tachylalia include:

prevention of intrauterine infections, birth injuries, bruises and brain damage;
mandatory vaccination against diseases that can lead to neuroinfection;
adequate speech education;
timely treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders.

You can find out in more detail what tachylalia is in children and register your child for diagnostics in Moscow at the SM-Doctor clinic.

Classification

In speech therapy, there are three main types of tachylalia:

simple form, when the child speaks very quickly, but without making grammatical, lexical or other errors in oral and written narration;
battarism (paraphasia), in which children seem to be “choked” by speech and cannot finish the sentence they have started, often making mistakes in the construction of vocabulary;
half-turn or stumbling, when the baby has difficulty expressing his thoughts, stuttering, making unnatural pauses, quickly going through words, repeating previously spoken words and syllables several times.

Polturn, in turn, can be caused by different mechanisms, and depending on the characteristics of the disorder, the following types of stumbling are distinguished:

with motor disorders, which is associated with errors in the operation of the articulatory apparatus;
with sensory impairments that are caused by problems with auditory and visual attention;
with difficulty in selecting the necessary verbal forms;
with difficulties in transferring mental images into verbal form.

The formation of each type of disorder is based on the predominance of excitation processes over inhibition processes in the brain.