A study on Prediction of Articulation Development

In an attempt to construct a short predictive test of articulation, the data obtained on 147 subjects aged 4 through 6 with misarticulation were analyzed. The subjects were those who were tested twice at an interval of two years with the comprehensive test which was specially composed for this purpose. The test consists of 509 items in 8 subtests (four articulation tests, two auditory tests, and two other tests) . The test scores of the 509 items were arranged into 45 composite scores.Correlation coefficients were computed between the articulation score (represented by word articulation test-voluntary) of the 2-year-later test, and each of 45 composite scores of the first test. Twentysix composit a scores were selected at a 1% level of significance, as ones which showed higher predictive value or correlation coefficient. Using the articulation score and 26 composite scores, a multiple correlation coefficient was computed (R=0.67), and a multiple regression equation was derived.Applying the equation to each subjest using the 26 composite scores of the first test, 147 predictive articulation scores were obtained. The predictive rate was 74.8% of observed score of the two-year-later test.