Evaluation of N1-P2 cortical auditory evoked potential results in adult stutterers

Abstract

BackgroundStuttering is a fluency disorder characterized by changes in speech flow caused by neuroaudiological factors linked to central auditory processing. We aimed to assess the affection of cortical auditory evoked potentials (CAEP) in stutterers with secondary intention to compare the results with non-stutterers.MethodsThis was a case–control study, involved 80 participants distributed into 2 groups: 40 adults stutterers formed the study group and 40 adult non stutterers as the control group, aged between 18 and 45 years. N1-P2 recordings were done using tone bursts stimuli. The absolute amplitudes of the N1 and P2 cortical auditory evoked potential wave forms, as well as the peak-to-peak amplitudes and latencies of the N1 and P2 waves, were measured.ResultsLatencies N1 and P2 CAEP waves were statistically significant prolonged in stutterers than the control group. Regarding N1-P2 amplitudes, there was no significant difference between the two groups. There was a statistically significant negative correlation between N1-P2 amplitude and degree of stuttering.ConclusionCortical auditory evoked potentials could be an important tool in diagnoses and in assessment of improvement in adult stutterer individuals throughout treatment phases.