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The influence of the dynamics and the level of maturity of the cortical functions as a prerequisite for the development of speech in children

Davidović Maja (Dr Laza Lazarević Clinic for Psychiatric Diseases, Belgrade)
Otašević Jadranka (Faculty of Special Education and Rehabilitation, Belgrade)
Dobrota-Davidović Nada (Faculty of Special Education and Rehabilitation, Belgrade)
Petronić Ivana (University Children’s Clinic, Belgrade)
Davidović Dragomir (Dr Laza Lazarević Clinic for Psychiatric Diseases, Belgrade)
Jerkić Lana (Dr Cvetko Brajović Institute of Psychophysiological Disorders and Speech Pathology, Belgrade)

Introduction/Objective. The development of speech is the result of interaction of different systems of the cortex, which gradually acquires the ability of phonological presentation and motor control, in the presence of a series of physical and physiological changes in the morphology of the articulation system. The objective of the study was to examine the impact of laterality and cortical responses on the development of speech in children. Methods. Research is a quasi-experimental design with two groups. The sample covered 60 children from Belgrade, of both sexes, ages 5.5–7 years, divided into two groups, experimental (30) and control (30). We used the following instruments: test for assessing laterality and ascertaining evoked potentials. Results. On the visual lateralization subtest there was a statistically significant difference (χ2 = 7.56, p < 0.05) between the observed groups. The visual evoked potentials on all measured parameters gave a statistically significant difference between the groups: waveform cortical responses – left (χ2 = 30.00, df = 1, p < 0.05); cortical responses – right (χ2 = 6.667, df = 1 , p < 0.05); waveform amplitude – left (χ2 = 13.469, df = 1, p < 0.05); amplitude – right (χ2 = 40.00, df = 1, p < 0.05), somatosensory potentials (χ2 = 18.261, df = 1, p <0.05); waveform amplitude (χ2 = 12.000, df = 1, p < 0.05); waveform latency (χ2 = 5.455, df = 1, p < 0.05). Conclusion. Visual laterality, as well as visual and somatosensory cortical responses to stimuli is better in children without the present articulation disorder, which could be used for timely prevention planning.

Keywords: speech, laterality, children, articulation disorder, evoked potentials