Abstract
To assess the potential association between psychological risk and limited auditory pathway maturation. In this longitudinal cohort study, 54 infants (31 non-risk and 23 at-risk) were assessed from age 1 to 12 months. All had normal hearing and underwent assessment of auditory maturation through cortical auditory evoked potentials testing. Psychological risk was assessed with the Child Development Risk Indicators (CDRIs) and PREAUT signs. A variety of statistical methods were used for analysis of results. Analysis of P1 and N1 latencies showed that responses were similar in the both groups. Statistically significant differences between-groups were observed only for the variables N1 latency and amplitude at 1 month. Significant maturation occurred in both groups (p<0.05). There was moderate correlation between P1 latency and Phase II CDRIs, which demonstrates that children with longer latencies at age 12 months were more likely to exhibit absence of these indicators in Phase II and, therefore, were at greater psychological risk. The Phase II CDRIs also correlated moderately with P1 and N1 latencies at 6 months and N1 latencies at 1 month; again, children with longer latency were at increased risk. Less auditory pathway maturation correlated with presence of psychological risk. Problems in the mother-infant relationship during the first 6 months of life are detrimental not only to cognitive development, but also to hearing. A fragile relationship may reflect decreased auditory and linguistic stimulation.
Highlights
IntroductionAn important aspect of any investigation into the language acquisition process is assessment of auditory system maturation
The auditory system is composed of sensory structures and central connections, which enable peripheral processing and interpretation of auditory information; this, in turn, provides access to meaning via language[1].an important aspect of any investigation into the language acquisition process is assessment of auditory system maturation
It is pertinent that both processes—language acquisition and auditory maturation—be monitored in infants, during the first 2 years of life, a period during which the neuroplasticity of the auditory system allows structural and functional changes to take place depending on the type of auditory stimulation provided to the child[2]
Summary
An important aspect of any investigation into the language acquisition process is assessment of auditory system maturation. This system, which begins to develop around the 20th gestational week, continues to specialize during extrauterine life, until 2 years of age, with the acquisition of skills such as sound detection, discrimination, and localization[1]. It is pertinent that both processes—language acquisition and auditory maturation—be monitored in infants, during the first 2 years of life, a period during which the neuroplasticity of the auditory system allows structural and functional changes to take place depending on the type of auditory stimulation provided to the child[2]. Prenatal learning of some acoustic features of the story, probably prosodic, may explain this preference[5]
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