Abstract:
A growing number of studies have shown that Down-syndrome persons have a high incidence of auditory deficit and slow language development. Down-syndrome children were investigated with respect to (a) hearing level, (b) language development, (c) global development, and (d) environmental interaction. Fifty-one children, 6-47 months old, were observed, 22 of whom had Down syndrome. Controls included 13 children without diagnosis of mental impairment, and 16 children with mental impairment due to etiologies other than Down syndrome. None of the subjects had a previous diagnosis of hearing loss. Relations among levels of hearing, global and language development, home stimulation, and risk factors for hearing loss were analyzed. The Down-syndrome group showed significantly elevated auditory thresholds and a larger number of pathological findings in the external and middle ears, as compared to other groups. It also showed lower levels in language development, as compared to global development; and shortened latencies of waves I and V in BERA. [Work supported by CNPq and CORDE.]