Contralateral suppression of otoacoustic emissions in children with specific language impairment.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the investigation was to determine whether a group of children with specific language impairments (SLI) have reduced peripheral auditory processes thought to be associated with speech-in-noise intelligibility. DESIGN: Transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE) and their suppression by the efferent activity of the medial olivocochlear system (MOCS) in response to contralateral acoustic stimulation were used to compare these processes in 18 children with SLI and 21 controls. RESULTS: The results revealed no group difference in TEOAE suppression effect or left/right asymmetry of TEOAE suppression effect. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that children with SLI do not have auditory processing problems at this peripheral level casting doubt on a hypothesized relationship between strength of MOCS activity and language impairment.

Author information

Author/s: Clarke, Elaine M (EM); Ahmmed, Ansar (A); Parker, David (D); Adams, Catherine (C);

Affiliation: School of Psychological Sciences, the University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom. elaine.clarke(-atsign-)manchester.ac.uk

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Ear and hearing (Ear Hear), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Apr; vol 27 (issue 2) : pp 153-60

Dates: Created 2006/03/06; Completed 2006/07/31; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 16518143, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

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