Abnormal frequency discrimination in children with SLI as indexed by mismatch negativity (MMN)
Research output: Contribution to journal › Research article › Contributed › peer-review
Contributors
Abstract
For several decades, the aetiology of specific language impairment (SLI) has been associated with a central auditory processing deficit disrupting the normal language development of affected children. One important aspect for language acquisition is the discrimination of different acoustic features, such as frequency information. Concerning SLI, studies to date that examined frequency discrimination abilities have been contradictory. We hypothesized that an auditory processing deficit in children with SLI depends on the frequency range and the difference between the tones used. Using a passive mismatch negativity (MMN)-design, 13 boys with SLI and 13 age- and IQ-matched controls (7-11 years) were tested with two sine tones of different frequency (700Hz versus 750Hz). Reversed hemispheric activity between groups indicated abnormal processing in SLI. In a second time window, MMN2 was absent for the children with SLI. It can therefore be assumed that a frequency discrimination deficit in children with SLI becomes particularly apparent for tones below 750Hz and for a frequency difference of 50Hz. This finding may have important implications for future research and integration of various research approaches.
Details
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 99-104 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Neuroscience letters |
Volume | 413 |
Issue number | 2 |
Publication status | Published - 14 Feb 2007 |
Peer-reviewed | Yes |
External IDs
Scopus | 33846612702 |
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Keywords
Keywords
- Acoustic Stimulation, Auditory Pathways/physiopathology, Auditory Perceptual Disorders/physiopathology, Brain/physiopathology, Child, Electroencephalography, Evoked Potentials/physiology, Humans, Language Development Disorders/physiopathology, Male, Pitch Discrimination/physiology, Predictive Value of Tests, Reaction Time/physiology, Speech Perception/physiology, Verbal Behavior/physiology