[Otoacoustic emissions as cochlear function analyser in children with language disorders]

Area of Science:

• Pediatric audiology
• Speech-language pathology
• Neuroscience of language

Background:

• Cochlear function is crucial for speech perception and language development.
• Children with language problems may exhibit underlying auditory processing deficits.
• Transient otoacoustic emissions (TOAEs) offer insights into cochlear function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate changes in TOAEs in children with language disorders before and after speech therapy.
• To assess the impact of speech therapy on cochlear function in this population.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 17 children (3-6 years) with anarthric language delay underwent baseline assessments including TOAEs, audiometry, and language tests.
• Participants received 6 months of speech therapy.
• Post-therapy assessments evaluated changes in TOAEs and audiometric results.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements in TOAE reproducibility at 1kHz in the right ear were observed post-therapy (P≤0.01).
• Audiometry revealed significant differences in hearing thresholds post-therapy, especially at 0.5-8kHz (right ear) and 3kHz (left ear).

Conclusions:

• Speech therapy positively impacts cochlear function, as indicated by TOAE and audiometric changes.
• Peripheral auditory processing may influence central language processing, underscoring the need for audiological evaluation in language disorder management.
• Findings support integrating audiological assessments into the diagnosis and rehabilitation of children with language disorders.