The articulation characteristics of normal Thai children aged 3 – 10 years assessing by using the Thai Articulation Test (TAT).

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to investigate the articulation characteristics of Thai children. Subjects were 560 students aged 3-10 years in Bangkok Metrolitan area. They were divided into 8 groups according to their age. Every subject was assessed his/her articulation characteristics by using the Thai Articulation Test (TAT)4, which consisted of 69 black-white drawing pictures. Each picture represents Thai phonemes tonal features, vowels, consonants and clusters. Results of this study indicated that all subjects mastered every tonal feature and vowel within the age 3 years. At 3 years of age, the children produced all consonants correctly, except the /r/ sound. There were 15% of 10 years old children acquired accurately. There was a significant correlation between articulation abilities and ages. This study revealed that there was no different between two genders. As a result, the TAT appeared to be a valid and reliable test for clinical and research uses for the dynamic present situation.