M Ptok1, P Blachnik, R Schönweiler. 1. Klinik und Poliklinik für Phoniatrie und Pädaudiologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover. Ptok.martin@MH-hannover.de
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Neutral condition event related potentials (NC-ERP) are not suitable for differentiating between children suffering from auditory processing disorders (APD) alone and APD-children with attention deficit disorder. Other factors beside severity of APD may cause "pathological" NC-ERP. Here we raise the question of whether maturational factors may be responsible for disordered NC-ERP. METHODS: NC-ERP data from 142 APD children (range 5.4-17.2 years; mean 9.8 years) were analysed. Data were grouped according to age of children (I: <7.11 years n=34; II: 8.0-9.11 years n=46; III: 10.0-11.11 years n=39; IV: >12.0 years n=23). RESULTS: Pathological NC-ERP were found in 82.3% (group I), 56.6% (group II), 46.2% (group III) and 8.8% (group IV). Additional analyses confirmed no correlation with ADHD. DISCUSSION: Although there is a whole body of evidence that late auditory evoked potential may mature with age, it is not known if NC-ERP are also age dependent. Our results that NC-ERP mature with age are consistent with data for other late auditory evoked potentials. Since normative date of NC-ERP for different age groups are still lacking, NC-ERP results in children should be interpreted very cautiously.
BACKGROUND: Neutral condition event related potentials (NC-ERP) are not suitable for differentiating between children suffering from auditory processing disorders (APD) alone and APD-children with attention deficit disorder. Other factors beside severity of APD may cause "pathological" NC-ERP. Here we raise the question of whether maturational factors may be responsible for disordered NC-ERP. METHODS: NC-ERP data from 142 APD children (range 5.4-17.2 years; mean 9.8 years) were analysed. Data were grouped according to age of children (I: <7.11 years n=34; II: 8.0-9.11 years n=46; III: 10.0-11.11 years n=39; IV: >12.0 years n=23). RESULTS: Pathological NC-ERP were found in 82.3% (group I), 56.6% (group II), 46.2% (group III) and 8.8% (group IV). Additional analyses confirmed no correlation with ADHD. DISCUSSION: Although there is a whole body of evidence that late auditory evoked potential may mature with age, it is not known if NC-ERP are also age dependent. Our results that NC-ERP mature with age are consistent with data for other late auditory evoked potentials. Since normative date of NC-ERP for different age groups are still lacking, NC-ERP results in children should be interpreted very cautiously.
Authors: A Nickisch; M Gross; R Schönweiler; V Uttenweiler; A am Zehnhoff-Dinnesen; R Berger; H J Radü; M Ptok Journal: HNO Date: 2007-01 Impact factor: 1.284