Dorothy V. M. Bishop|Genevieve McArthur
Individual Differences in Auditory Processing in Specific Language Impairment: A Follow-Up Study using Event-Related Potentials and Behavioural Thresholds
University of Oxford|University of Oxford
frequently claimed children specific language impairment sli impaired auditory perception much controversy role deficits causing language problems difficult establish solid replicable findings area discrepancies field may arise focus mean results obscures heterogeneity population b insufficient attention paid maturational aspects auditory processing conducted study 16 young people specific language impairment sli 16 control participants 24 auditory eventrelated potentials erps frequency discrimination thresholds assessed 18 months previously originally assessed around one third listeners sli poor behavioural frequency discrimination thresholds tended younger participants however sli group age inappropriate late components auditory erp regardless frequency discrimination followup behavioural thresholds poor frequency discrimination improved though remained outside control range followup erps many individuals sli group still ageappropriate several cases waveforms individuals sli group resembled younger typicallydeveloping children though cases waveform unlike control cases age electrophysiological methods may reveal underlying immaturity abnormality auditory processing even behavioural thresholds look normal study emphasises variability seen sli importance studying individual cases rather focusing group means