Beta Spectral Power during Passive Listening in Preschool Children with Specific Language Impairment.

INTRODUCTION: Children with specific language impairment (SLI) have difficulties in different speech and language domains. Electrophysiological studies have documented that auditory processing in children with SLI is atypical and probably caused by delayed and abnormal auditory maturation. During the resting state, or different auditory tasks, children with SLI show low or high beta spectral power, which could be a clinical correlate for investigating brain rhythms. METHODS: The aim of this study was to examine the electrophysiological cortical activity of the beta rhythm while listening to words and nonwords in children with SLI in comparison to typical development (TD) children. The participants were 50 children with SLI, aged 4 and 5 years, and 50 age matched TD children. The children were divided into two subgroups according to age: (1) children 4 years of age; (2) children 5 years of age. RESULTS: The older group differed from the younger group in beta auditory processing, with increased values of beta spectral power in the right frontal, temporal, and parietal regions. In addition, children with SLI have higher beta spectral power than TD children in the bilateral temporal regions. CONCLUSION: Complex beta auditory activation in TD and SLI children indicates the presence of early changes in functional brain connectivity.

Speech-language pathologists' professional stress level and factors affecting it in the Republic of Serbia.

BACKGROUND: In the Republic of Serbia, to our knowledge, there has been no research dedicated to the professional stress faced by speech-language pathologists (SLPs). Since speech therapy belongs to the helping professions, SLPs might experience professional stress. OBJECTIVE: To examine the levels of professional stress in SLPs concerning sociodemographic characteristics and terms of the workplace. METHODS: The research was conducted online, using a questionnaire designed to determine professional stress in speech-language pathologists - Speech-Language Pathologist Stress Inventory. The voluntary sample consisted of 185 employed SLPs from the Republic of Serbia. The stress level was observed concerning marital status, years of working experience, age, educational degree, caseload size, job sector, job setting, type of patients' diagnosis, and type of service which SLPs provide. RESULTS: The results showed that SLPs experience mild to moderate levels of professional stress and that there is a statistically significant difference in the stress level concerning years of working experience, age, job sector, and job setting. Applying Generalized Linear Mixed Model revealed that two-way interaction (Years of working experience * Marital status) and three-way interaction (Age * Job Setting * Type of patients' diagnosis) dominated on the model. CONCLUSION: Since it is noted that SLPs are experiencing mild to moderate levels of professional stress, it is important to emphasize the need for adaptation of existing work terms as well as to provide additional support to speech therapists in order to improve their mental health.

EEG Correlates of Cognitive Functions in a Child with ASD and White Matter Signal Abnormalities: A Case Report with Two-and-a-Half-Year Follow-Up.

This research aimed to examine the EEG correlates of different stimuli processing instances in a child with ASD and white matter signal abnormalities and to investigate their relationship to the results of behavioral tests. The prospective case study reports two and a half years of follow-up data from a child aged 38 to 66 months. Cognitive, speech-language, sensory, and EEG correlates of auditory-verbal and auditory-visual-verbal information processing were recorded during five test periods, and their mutual interrelation was analyzed. EEG findings revealed no functional theta frequency range redistribution in the frontal regions favoring the left hemisphere during speech processing. The results pointed to a positive linear trend in the relative theta frequency range and a negative linear trend in the relative alpha frequency range when listening to and watching the cartoon. There was a statistically significant correlation between EEG signals and behavioral test results. Based on the obtained results, it may be concluded that EEG signals and their association with the results of behavioral tests should be evaluated with certain restraints considering the characteristics of the stimuli during EEG recording.

Importance of Early Intervention in Reducing Autistic Symptoms and Speech-Language Deficits in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The intervention focused on starting treatment at an early age to develop the child's full potential, which is known as early intervention. Given that autistic symptoms and language deficits occur at an early age and affect other areas of development in children with autistic spectrum disorder, we wanted to examine if early intervention is more effective in the reduction in autistic symptoms and language deficits in children aged 36−47 months old when compared to children 48−60 months old. The sample consisted of 29 children diagnosed with ASD who were admitted for integrative therapy. All participants were divided into two groups based on age: G1: 36−47 months old children, and G2: 48−60 months old children. To estimate the presence of autistic symptoms, we used the GARS-3, and for the assessment of speech−language abilities, we used the subscale Estimated Speech and Language Development (ESLD). Our results regarding the effect of the group on the difference in the scores at two time points showed that there was a statistically significant effect of the group on the reduction in autistic symptoms (p < 0.05) but no effect of the group on the differences in speech−language abilities between the two time points (p > 0.05). Our study highlights the importance of emphasizing the exact age when using the terms "early intervention" and "early development" in future studies and practice because it is necessary to determine and establish guidelines about which particular ages are crucial for starting treatment in certain developmental aspects.

Multidisciplinary speech and language therapy approach in a child with multiple disabilities including blindness due to retinopathy of prematurity: a case study with a one year follow-up.

Aim: This study aims to show speech and language, sensory-motor, and emotional progress after one year of therapy according to the needs of and resources for a child with multiple disabilities and blindness due to retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).Methods: A 45-month-old boy was examined by a multidisciplinary team and assessed using the Sensory Profile 2, The Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale II, The Communication Matrix, and The Scale for Evaluation of Psychophysiological Abilities of Children Aged 0-7. After a year of daily individually adopted speech and language therapy followed by supplementary therapeutics method, based on a multidisciplinary approach, the child was reassessed using the same battery of tests.Results: The obtained results might indicate the importance of factors such as a multidisciplinary approach, individualization, communication pathways, therapist's characteristics, and trust when working with children with multiple disabilities.Conclusion: Taking into account all the features of multiple disabilities during the treatment course, continuous monitoring, modification, and adaptation of applied therapy method proved successful in this case.

Electroen cephalography correlates of word and non-word listening in children with specific language impairment: An observational study20F0.

Auditory processing in children diagnosed with speech and language impairment (SLI) is atypical and characterized by reduced brain activation compared to typically developing (TD) children. In typical speech and language development processes, frontal, temporal, and posterior regions are engaged during single-word listening, while for non-word listening, it is highly unlikely that perceiving or speaking them is not followed by frequent neurones' activation enough to form stable network connections. This study aimed to investigate the electrophysiological cortical activity of alpha rhythm while listening words and non-words in children with SLI compared to TD children. The participants were 50 children with SLI, aged 4 to 6, and 50 age-related TD children. Groups were divided into 2 subgroups: first subgroup - children aged 4.0 to 5.0 years old (E = 25, C = 25) and second subgroup - children aged 5.0 to 6.0 years old (E = 25, C = 25). The younger children's group did not show statistically significant differences in alpha spectral power in word or non-word listening. In contrast, in the older age group for word and non-word listening, differences were present in the prefrontal, temporal, and parieto-occipital regions bilaterally. Children with SLI showed a certain lack of alpha desynchronization in word and non-word listening compared with TD children. Non-word perception arouses more brain regions because of the unknown presence of the word stimuli. The lack of adequate alpha desynchronization is consistent with established difficulties in lexical and phonological processing at the behavioral level in children with SLI.

Can EEG Correlates Predict Treatment Efficacy in Children with Overlapping ASD and SLI Symptoms: A Case Report.

Evaluation of the rehabilitation efficacy may be an essential indicator of its further implementation and planning. The research aim is to examine whether the estimation of EEG correlates of auditory-verbal processing in a child with overlapping autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and specific language impairment (SLI) symptoms may be a predictor of the treatment efficacy in conditions when behavioral tests do not show improvement during the time course. The prospective case report reports follow-up results in a child aged 36 to 66 months. During continuous integrative therapy, autism risk index, cognitive, speech-language, sensory, and EEG correlates of auditory-verbal information processing are recorded in six test periods, and their mutual interrelation was analyzed. The obtained results show a high statistically significant correlation of all observed functions with EEG correlates related to the difference between the average mean values of theta rhythm in the left (F1, F3, F7) and right (F2, F4, F8) frontal region. The temporal dynamics of the examined processes point to the consistency of the evaluated functions increasing with time flow. These findings indicate that EEG correlates of auditory-verbal processing may be used to diagnose treatment efficacy in children with overlapping ASD and SLI.