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Communication Impairments in Children with Inborn Errors of Metabolism: A Preliminary Study
Shivani Tiwari1, Divya Kallianpur1, Kelly Ann DeSilva1
1Department of Speech and Hearing, School of Allied Health Sciences, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
Insights
Communication disorders are common in children with Inborn Errors of Metabolism (IEMs), with speech and language delays being the most frequent. This study highlights the need for early identification and intervention in this vulnerable pediatric population.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Genetics
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Communication Sciences
Background:
- Inborn Errors of Metabolism (IEMs) are genetic conditions primarily affecting children.
- While IEM diagnosis has advanced, communication impairments in affected children remain understudied.
- Understanding these communication challenges is crucial for comprehensive patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize communication impairments in children diagnosed with IEMs.
- To profile the types and prevalence of communication disorders within this specific pediatric group.
- To raise awareness of communication deficits associated with IEMs.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of medical records from a tertiary care hospital (2005-2014).
- Review of demographic data, clinical manifestations, and laboratory findings.
- Identification of reported communication impairments and associated developmental disorders.
Main Results:
- Children with IEMs presented with diverse clinical and laboratory findings.
- Risk factors such as consanguinity and family history were noted.
- Delayed speech and language development were the most prevalent communication disorders observed in nearly half of the children with IEMs.
Conclusions:
- Communication disorders are a significant concern in children with IEMs.
- The findings underscore the importance of screening for communication impairments in pediatric IEM cases.
- Further research is warranted to explore the specific mechanisms and effective interventions for these disorders.
Purpose:
Inborn Errors of Metabolism (IEMs) are a group of complex genetic conditions, predominantly affecting the pediatric population. While the understanding and identification of various IEMs has significantly improved over recent times, not much is known about the communication disorders in this population. The present study focused on identification and profiling of communication impairments in children diagnosed with IEMs.
Methods:
Data was obtained retrospectively from medical records of children visiting a tertiary care hospital over a period of ten years (2005 - 2014). Selected data was reviewed to obtain demographic details, clinical signs/manifestations, laboratory findings, risk factors, developmental disorders and reported communication impairments.
Results:
The findings of the study showed a variety of clinical signs and laboratory findings in children with inborn errors of metabolism. A few of the risk factors observed in the group were consanguinity, sibling death and family history of other disorders. Many children with IEM displayed communication disorders, most common as the delay in speech and language development.
Conclusions:
The results of this study showed that various communication disorders were seen in almost half of the children with a diagnosis of IEM. Findings are discussed with implications for future research in this direction.
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