Factors influencing the performance in nonword repetition tasks - the relevance of a standardized administration of the Mottier-Test

Nonword repetition tasks are considered an essential component in identifying developmental language disorders in monolingual and multilingual children. A considerable amount of research has been conducted to investigate the impact of various factors, such as the length and syllable structure of the nonwords or their similarity to the ambient language on children's repetition performance. However, aspects of test administration, specifically item presentation, have so far not been analyzed. Two studies on the influence of presentation pace and presentation mode (prerecorded vs. live spoken) are presented here. Study 1 investigated the impact of presentation speed on the nonword repetition performance of 40 children using the Mottier test. It was found that children repeated more nonwords correctly when presented at a fast rate (approximately two syllables per second) compared to a slow rate (approximately one syllable per second). Study 2 aimed to explore a possible effect of the mode of presentation (prerecorded vs. live spoken). Therefore, the Mottier test was conducted with an additional group of 54 children. A significant difference was found in favor of the live spoken item presentation. Both studies thus indicate that the presentation of items itself can have a significant influence on children's repetition performance. For an adequate administration of the Mottier test and interpretation of the test results, it is important to ensure that any approach regarding presentation pace and mode (prerecorded vs. live audition) is consistent with the norming study used. A standardized administration of the Mottier test should be strongly pursued to achieve higher objectivity in administration and to consecutively avoid different assessments of children's performance.