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Neuropediatrics 1997; 28(5): 253-256
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-973709
Original articles

© Hippokrates Verlag GmbH Stuttgart

Attenuated Auditory Event-Related Potential (Mismatch Negativity) in Children with Developmental Dysphasia

Irma E. Holopainen1 , P. Korpilahti3 , K. Juottonen2 , 3 , H. Lang2 , 3 , M. Sillanpää1
  • 1Department of Pediatric Neurology, University Hospital of Turku,
  • 2Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, University Hospital of Turku
  • 3Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Turku, Finland
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Publication History

Publication Date:
13 March 2007 (online)

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Abstract

An attention-independent negative wave-form termed 'mismatch negativity' (MMN) of the auditory event-related potentials (ERPs) was studied in ten children (3-6 years) with developmental dysphasia and in fourteen control children (3-7 years) with normal speech and language development. The MMNs were elicited with pure sine tone stimuli using the oddball paradigm. The peak latency and peak amplitude of MMN response to frequency (500/553 H2) difference was measured. The grand average amplitude of frequency MMN was significantly attenuated in dysphasic children as compared to controls, but no significant difference was observed in the latency of peak frequency MMN. The results indicate that dysphasic children have a defect in automatic auditory processing of frequency differences. Because the MMN response reflects central auditory processing and is modal specific for auditory stimuli we argue that the MMN method can serve as an objective tool to assess central auditory deficits in children.

Key words

Event-related potentials - Mismatch negativity - Dysphasia

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