Speech fluency: effect of age, gender and context.

The effects of age, gender and task on speech fluency performance in three speaking conditions were examined in 78 older (55-92 years) talkers. Results were analyzed for significant differences (p < or = 0.01) as a function of age, gender and task between speakers groups formed on increasingly older chronological age and as compared to a young (25-35 years) control group. The relationship between speech fluency and speech rate performance data obtained on the same tasks was also examined. Only a few significant effects and/or interactions were found for the variables in this study. These findings are discussed and compared to those of other recent studies.