Objective To investigate the characteristics of oral and laryngeal diadochokinesis abilities and the developmental patterns of coordinated vocal fold movements in preschool children aged 3~6 years.Methods Sixty-one normal preschool children aged 3~6 years were selected to measure their maximum phonation time(MPT),as well as two types of acoustic parameters of oral and laryngeal diadochokinesis ability movements,including the as-sessment of one trisyllabic/pataka/diadochokinesis ability rate and four monosyllabic/ʔa/,/ha/,/ʔA/,/hA/la-ryngeal diadochokinesis ability rates.Results Diadochokinesis ability(DDK)and laryngeal diadochokinesis ability(LDDK)rates increased with age in preschool children aged 3~6 years,showing highly significant differences(P<0.01).The growth rate of children's LDDK rates at age 4~5 years was the maximum within the 3~6 year age range.Children's MPT was highly significantly and positively correlated with DDK and LDDK(P<0.01).The vo-cal fold adduction capacity in laryngeal diadochokinesis ability movements in children of all age groups was greater than vocal fold adduction ability/ʔa/LDDK>/ha/LDDK(P<0.01),/ʔA/LDDK>/h∧/LDDK(P<0.05).Con-clusion Age,MPT,and vocal fold adduction and abduction status had a significant effect on the oral and laryngeal diadochokinesis ability of preschool children aged 3~6 years old.The ages of 4~5 is a critical period for the devel-opment of children's oral and laryngeal diadochokinesis ability.
Diadochokinesis ability(DDK)Laryngeal diadochokinesis ability(LDDK)Speech motor control