Abnormalities in central auditory maturation in children with language-based learning problems

Objective: To examine maturation of the central auditory pathways in children with language-based learning problems (LP). Methods: Cortical auditory evoked potentials (CAEPs) recorded from 26 children with LP were compared to CAEPs recorded from 38 typical children. CAEP responses were recorded in response to a speech sound, /uh/, which was presented in a stimulus train with decreasing inter-stimulus intervals (ISIs) of 2000, 1000, 560, and 360 ms. Results: We identified three atypical morphological categories of CAEP responses in the LP group. Category 1 responses revealed delayed P1 latencies and absent N1/P2 components. Category 2 responses revealed typical P1 responses, but delayed N1 and P2 responses. Category 3 responses revealed generally low-amplitude CAEP responses. A fourth sub-group of LP children had normal CAEP responses. Conclusions: Overall, the majority of children with LP had abnormal CAEP responses. These children fell into distinct categories based on the abnormalities in maturational patterns of their CAEP responses. Significance: We describe a rate sensitive stimulation paradigm which may be used to identify and categorize LP children who exhibit abnormal patterns of central auditory maturation.