Maximum Performance Tests of Speech Production
Abstract
The maximum performance tests of speech production are those tests that examine the upper limits of performance for selected speech tasks. Among the most commonly used maximum performance tests are the following: maximum duration of phonation, maximum fricative duration, maximum phonation volume, maximum expiratory pressure, fundamental frequency range, maximum sound pressure level, maximum occluding force of the articulators, and diadochokinetic (maximum repetition) rate. Many clinicians use at least some of these tasks as part of an assessment protocol. These tests are analogous to strength, range, or speed tests in clinical neurology. Given the widespread use of these tests and a rather scattered literature on normative values obtained for them, a survey of the data base seemed in order. This paper summarizes the published normative data, discusses the adequacy of these data for clinical application, and recommends interpretive guidelines to enhance the usefulness of maximum performance tests.
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Maximum performance speech tasks are particularly suitable for clinical AI because the context is meant to maximally tax the speech system every time.
“For these reasons, maximum performance speech tasks (Kent et al., 1987) are particularly suitable for clinical AI because the context is meant to maximally tax the speech system every time (Berisha et al., 2022).”
From Equipping Speech-Language Clinicians for the Critical Appraisal of an Artificial Intelligence–Driven, Evidence-Based Future (2025) · cites this paper as Kent et al., 1987
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fMRI reveals two distinct cerebral networks subserving speech motor control
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Fox, C. M., & Ramig, L. O. (1997) · American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology · doi:10.1044/1058-0360.0602.85 · Cited by 202 · see citing works
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- Authors
- Kent, R. D., Kent, J. F., & Rosenbek, J. C.
- Affiliations
- University of Wisconsin–Madison (US)
- United States Department of Veterans Affairs (US)
- ORCID
- Kent, Ray D.
- Venue
- Journal of Speech and Hearing Disorders
- Published
- 1987-11
- Volume
- 52
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 367-387
- ISSN
- 0022-4677 (ISSN-L)
- 2163-6184
- OpenAlex
- W2025058112
- Cited by
- 395
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 24 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 16
- FWCI
- 4.04
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Speech and Hearing Disorders (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NS 22458)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Voice and Speech Disorders
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Phonetics and Phonology Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Language Development and Disorders
- Keywords
- speech production, reference values, phonation duration, fricative duration, maximal expiratory pressure, fundamental frequency range, sound pressure level, diadochokinesis, test interpretation, speech assessment
- MeSH terms
- Humans, Speech Production Measurement
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