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Temporal auditory processing and phonological awareness in children with benign epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes
M I R Amaral1, R L Casali1, M Boscariol2
1Child and Adolescent Health Program, Center for Investigation in Pediatrics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas (FCM/UNICAMP), Tessália Vieira de Camargo 126, 13083-887 Campinas, SP, Brazil.
Insights
Children with benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS) show deficits in auditory temporal processing and phonological awareness skills. These auditory and language challenges are linked, impacting development.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Speech and Hearing Sciences
Background:
- Benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS) is a common epilepsy syndrome in children.
- Auditory processing and phonological awareness are crucial for language development and academic success.
- Previous research suggests potential links between epilepsy and cognitive/linguistic deficits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate temporal auditory processing and phonological awareness in children with BECTS.
- To compare these abilities between children with BECTS and healthy controls.
- To explore the correlation between temporal auditory processing and phonological awareness in this population.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 13 children with BECTS (GI) and 17 healthy children (GII).
- Neurological and audiological assessments were conducted.
- Behavioral auditory evaluation included the Gaps-in-Noise (GIN) test and Duration Pattern test.
- Phonological awareness was assessed using the PCF test (syllabic, phonemic, rhyme, alliteration).
Main Results:
- Children with BECTS (GI) performed significantly worse than controls (GII) on the GIN and Duration Pattern tests (P < 0.001).
- GI demonstrated significantly lower performance across all assessed phonological awareness categories: syllabic (P = 0.001), phonemic (P = 0.006), rhyme (P = 0.015), and alliteration (P = 0.010).
- A significant positive correlation was found between phonological awareness and the Duration Pattern test (P < 0.001).
Conclusions:
- Children with BECTS exhibit difficulties in auditory temporal processing, including temporal resolution and ordering.
- Impaired phonological awareness skills are prevalent in children with BECTS.
- A significant relationship exists between auditory temporal processing abilities and phonological awareness in children with BECTS, suggesting a shared underlying mechanism.
Abstract:
The aim of this research was to analyze temporal auditory processing and phonological awareness in school-age children with benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS). Patient group (GI) consisted of 13 children diagnosed with BECTS. Control group (GII) consisted of 17 healthy children. After neurological and peripheral audiological assessment, children underwent a behavioral auditory evaluation and phonological awareness assessment. The procedures applied were: Gaps-in-Noise test (GIN), Duration Pattern test, and Phonological Awareness test (PCF). Results were compared between the groups and a correlation analysis was performed between temporal tasks and phonological awareness performance. GII performed significantly better than the children with BECTS (GI) in both GIN and Duration Pattern test (P < 0.001). GI performed significantly worse in all of the 4 categories of phonological awareness assessed: syllabic (P = 0.001), phonemic (P = 0.006), rhyme (P = 0.015) and alliteration (P = 0.010). Statistical analysis showed a significant positive correlation between the phonological awareness assessment and Duration Pattern test (P < 0.001). From the analysis of the results, it was concluded that children with BECTS may have difficulties in temporal resolution, temporal ordering, and phonological awareness skills. A correlation was observed between auditory temporal processing and phonological awareness in the suited sample.
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