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Abstract:
Developmental Language Impairment (LI) is a condition
characterized by deficits in language comprehension and expression
in the absence of other cognitive, social, or motor deficits and in
the absence of frank neurological lesions. The underlying brain
correlates of this disorder are not known. It has been reported
that children with LI lack the leftward asymmetry of the planum
temporale (PT) seen in the majority of the population. This finding
prompted us to ask the question: If children with LI lack normal
neuroanatomical asymmetry of PT, do they lack normal brain
lateralization of function as well? To answer this question we used
the Fused Rhymed Words Test. Typically developing children show a
robust right ear advantage (REA), or left hemisphere (LH)
preference on this task by age 10 years. To date we have tested six
children with LI and six typically developing children on this
task, matched for age and handedness. Children with LI showed a
reduced REA when compared to their matched controls (means 104.8
± 14.4 and 118.7 ± 11.8 respectively, p = .102).
These data are preliminary, but suggest that this disorder may at
least in part be caused by the failure to develop normal brain
lateralization of function.
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