Cognitive potentials in children with learning disabilities

A group of 16 children, aged from 8 to 14 years, with learning disabilities, were studied by means of a series of conventional and sensitized audiological tests, including recording of the late cognitive electrical responses (P300). They had no otolaryngological or neurological complaints but expressive language disorders (difficulties in speaking and/or writing), receptive language disorders (difficulties in reading and text comprehension), and lack of concentration and/or restlessness. Their audiograms, speech discrimination and immitance tests were normal. The P300 responses, as compared with those found in 20 normal controls within the same age group, occurred at significantly longer latency periods.