[Are there auditory processing and perception disorders in children with dyslexia?].

BACKGROUND

In this paper the dichotic tests and the CERA (Cortical Evoked Response Audiometry) of children with dyslexia had been examined, in order to find out if there are auditory processing and perception disorders.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

33 children with dyslexia had been compared with 28 children without problems of writing and reading. The mean age of the children was 9 years. All of the children had been examined by the following audiometric measurements: tympanometry, pure-tone-audiometry, speech-audiometry, dichotic Tests by Uttenweiler and Feldmann and the Cortical Evoked Response Audiometry (CERA) rated according to Esser.

RESULTS

The intelligence quotients were in the group of dyslexic children significantly lower. The Uttenweiler and Feldmann tests were in dyslexic children significantly lower in the control group as well. The late cortical responses ware normal or near normal in both groups.

CONCLUSION

Dichotic speech tests indicate central auditory processing and perception deficits in dyslexia. These tests are confounded, however, by attention and memory deficits. The CERA rated according to Esser does not point out to these auditory disorders in dyslexia.