Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 4, 2026

Assessing Dyslexia at Six Year of Age
Published on: May 1, 2020
The role of the efferent auditory system in developmental dyslexia
Andrea Canale1, Federico Dagna1, Elena Favero1
1ENT Department, University of Torino, via Genova 3, 10126 Torino, Italy.
Objective:
To assess the role of the efferent auditory system by inhibition of contralateral otoacoustic emission in dyslexic children with auditory processing disorders.
Methods:
The study sample was 34 children: 17 with dyslexia and 17 age-matched controls. Sensitive speech tests (low-pass filtered, time-compressed, distorted and dichotic) were performed to assess coexisting auditory processing disorder. Distortion-product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) values were measured in basal condition and with contralateral broadband noise signal delivered via an earphone transducer at 60 dB SPL.
Results:
The lower scores at sensitive speech testing confirmed the association of an auditory processing disorder in the dyslexic children. DPOAE values were significantly attenuated by contralateral inhibition only in the control group (p=0.001; dyslexics, p=0.19); attenuation was not significant at any frequency in the dyslexic group.
Conclusions:
The differences in DPOAE attenuation between the groups, although not statistically significant, suggest alterations in the auditory efferent system in the dyslexic population. These alterations may affect language perception. If confirmed in further studies with larger samples, these results could provide insight into a possible pathophysiological background of dyslexia.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Language and Cognition
Learning Disabilities
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a...
Auditory Perception
Hearing
Auditory Pathway
When viewed cross-sectionally, the cochlea reveals the scala vestibuli and scala tympani flanking...
Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language
Language formation and comprehension take place in the dominant hemisphere. The dominant hemisphere is responsible for understanding the meaning of spoken, written, or sign language, as well as the ability to communicate. For most people, the left hemisphere is the dominant one. The right hemisphere, then, gives tone and emotional context to the...

