本研究探討華語說話者由兒童至老年的四項言語功能指標數值的變化，包括最長發聲時長 （MPT）、發聲基頻（F0）、口腔輪替運動（DDK）速率以及自發性言語速率，跨年齡層的比較這 些言語功能指標數值的差異。研究採橫斷法設計，年齡範圍由 4 歲至 83 歲，取樣八個年齡組群， 分 4 歲組、5 歲組、6 歲組、7 歲組、9 歲組、12 歲組、成人組、老年組，共 8 組，一組有 40 至 60 位不等的參與者，各組男女人數約各半，全部參與者共 350 位。分析結果顯示由兒童至成人隨 著年齡的增長，這些言語功能指標數值呈增進趨勢，但由成人至老年，言語功能指標數值則呈衰 退趨勢。在 MPT 方面，除了老年組外，隨著年齡增加，MPT 隨之增長，由四歲組平均 5 秒開始 逐漸增加，增長至成人最長，成年男性平均 21 秒。老年組則 MPT 減少，平均 15 秒。在 F0 方面， 在學齡前階段無性別差異，而由 9 歲開始出現顯著的性別差異，女性 F0 顯著地高於男性。由兒 童至成人，男女性皆隨著年齡的增長 F0 下降，但由成人至老人的 F0 變化趨勢是女性長者持續下 降，而男性長者的 F0 則略升高。DDK 的速率隨著兒童年齡的增長而變快，由四歲（平均 3.25 音節／秒）至成人達最高（平均 5.28 音節／秒），老年組 DDK 速率（平均 4.70 音節／秒）則顯 著低於成人組。自發言語速率和 DDK 速率隨年齡變化的趨勢相近似，亦隨著兒童年齡增長而變 快，由四歲（平均 2.35 音節／秒），至成人達最高（平均 4.37 音節／秒）。自發言語速率與各項 DDK 速率呈中度正相關，顯現兩者間在構音動作控制的關連性。四個言語功能指標數值隨著年 齡而變化的趨勢顯示言語功能在發聲呼吸效能、聲帶質量、構音動作速度與協調性的變化，由兒 童期至成人階段大致呈現增長趨勢，由成年至老年言語功能則呈衰退趨勢。

This study investigated the differences on the indicator values related with four speech functions among eight age groups of Mandarin speakers, and explored the changes in speech functions across lifespan. This cross-sectional study explored the changes in speech functions with age. The following four functional indicators of speech were measured: maximum phonation time (MPT), fundamental frequency (F0), oral diadochokinetic (DDK) rates, and spontaneous speech rates. The study recruited 350 participants, comprising of eight age groups, including 4-, 5-, 6-, 7-, 9-, 12-year-old children, young adults and older adults. The participant age ranged from 4 to 83 years. The results demonstrated that MPT increased with age—from an average of 5 seconds in 4-year-old children to an average of 21 seconds in adult male group. The MPTs of the older adults were shorter, at an average of approximately 15 seconds. The F0 values of preschool and 7-year-old children demonstrated no significant gender difference; however, gender difference appeared in 9-year-old children. The results showed that the F0s of adult females were significantly higher than those of adult males. For both genders, the F0s decreased with age, except for the older adults. The F0s of older women continued to decline, whereas those of older males increased slightly. The DDK rates increased with age, with a mean of 3.25 syllable/s, and it was fastest among all groups (mean: 5.28 syllable/s); however, the DDK rates in older adults tended to decrease (mean: 4.70 syllable/s). Although the spontaneous speech rates were slightly slower than the DDK rates, the tendency of changing with age was common for both indicators. The speech rates were moderately correlated with the DDK rates, suggesting that both of them may share the same articulatory motor control mechanism. The change of these indicators suggests that speech function generally improves with age, in terms of phonatory–respiratory efficacy, mass of vocal folds, articulatory agility, and coordination; however, the speech functions were observed to decline for older adults.

口腔輪替運動速率;自發性言語速率、言語功能、基頻、最長發 聲時長

oral diadochokinetic (DDK) rate; spontaneous speech rate; speech function; fundamental frequency (F0); maximum phonation time (MPT)