The usefulness of cognitive potentials in diagnostic process of dyslexia

Dyslexia is a specific developmental impairment in the ability to read and spell despite adequate educational resources, an average intelligence quotient, no sensory deficits and appropriate social and cultural opportunity. A number of findings point to an organic etiology of the disorder. An atypical organization of the auditory cortex in dyslexic readers could be demonstrated. On a functional level the core deficit in dyslexia is assumed to reading decoding processes. Problems with auditory attention, concentration, analysis are observed. Phonological deficits are very common theory now. Auditory processing and reading disorders have been linked in a number of studies. One way to delineate the cognitive difficulties associated with developmental dyslexia is the use of event-related brain potentials (ERPs). Thanks to them it is possible to analyze information of processing reactions. The aim of the study were to observe ERPs in dyslectic children, to determine the presence of auditory processing disorders and to investigate the differences in dyslectic children taking into consideration age, sex, intensity of cognitive difficulties described by psychologists, and also duration of rehabilitation process. Subjects were aged 7-18, had no history of hearing problems with normal hearing threshold. Each child suffered from dyslexia. Electric evoked potentials were preformed. Event-related potentials (ERPs) particularly MMN and P300 were in the special interest. The results will be discussed

The realization of the auditory universal neonatal hearing screening program during 2002-2008 in the Department of Phoniatrics and Audiology at the Medical University in Poznan

Introduction: Since Autumn 2002, a Program of Universal Neonatal Hearing Screening (UNHS) has been introduced to whole Poland. It includes 3 diagnostic levels. The first one takes place in all (c.500) neonatological units in Poland. Over 98% of newborns have been examined (over 1,000,000 ). Infants at about 3 months of age enter the second level of the Program. Over 50 audiological council centres organize this level of the Program. Infants are examined during 1-day hospitalization. The third level aims to fit with hearing aids early (before 6 months) and to begin with rehabilitation. When the profound hearing loss is diagnosed, the qualifications for cochlear implants starts. The UNHS Program has been initiated and partly sponsored by the Foundation of Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity. Aim: The aim of this study is to show our findings of hearing ability in infants examined in the Department of Phoniatrics and Audiology in Poznan. All the babies were examined by The Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Program during 2002-2007 in second and third level. Material: 2500 children have been admitted to the Department of Phoniatrics and Audiology. They were referred from neonatological wards with refer results or because of risk factors of hearing loss in the anamnesis. The methods of audiological examinations were: DPOAE, impedance audiometry and ABR. Results: 3382 of DPOAE tests, 1753 of ABR tests and 1020 impedance tests were performed. Children were divided into 2 groups: 1. with pass result in DPOAE, without risk factors of hearing disorder in anamnesis; 2. with refer result or with risk factors of hearing disorder. Infants from the second group had the impedance audiometry and ABR tests performed (cross check principle) to state the hearing threshold and define the type of hearing loss. 8.7% (218) children were fitted with a hearing aid; 2.6% (65) children qualified to the Cochlear Implants Program and 2.4% (59) of them underwent the cochlear implant surgery 0.8% (22) of these were before the second year of their lives. The detailed results of the hearing screening examinations are: binaural conductive hypoacusis was diagnosed in 6%, unilateral perceptive hearing loss in 2.8% and bilateral perceptive hearing loss in 3.6%. In three cases we diagnosed neuropathy of 8th nerve. In 87.6% of children examined in 2nd level of Newborn Screening hearing disorders were not confirmed

Communication disorders associated with motor neuron disease (MND)

The aim of the paper was to present voice and speech disorders associated with motor neuron disease - MND. Two cases of MND were described. Communication problems - dysphonia and dysarthria were one of their early manifestations. It is supposed that sulcus vocalis, which is the result of the degeneration process of the vocal muscle, is the laryngeal presentation of MND

Communication disorders associated with motor neuron disease (MND)

The aim of the paper was to present voice and speech disorders associated with motor neuron disease - MND. Two cases of MND were described. Communication problems - dysphonia and dysarthria were one of their early manifestations. It is supposed that sulcus vocalis, which is the result of the degeneration process of the vocal muscle, is the laryngeal presentation of MND

a study of people with good hearing from various age groups

Introduction: Evaluation of the objective results in the clinical examination of central auditory disorders requires the use of reliable language tests which provide the means for the estimation of patients' audio-verbal communicative skills. Materials and methods: The authors present a new set of more difficult language tests in Polish, including a filtered speech test, numeral and verbal dichotic tests and a Calearo test. The tests were evaluated on a group of people with good hearing from various age groups.Conclusions: The presented tests are the only existing ones created for the Polish language, which expand the diagnostic possibilities in the case of central auditory processing disorders.It was found out that there is a right ear predominance in dichotic tests, which grows together with the patient's age. This observation can be very beneficial in practice, allowing for hearing aids to be better fitted