Hemispheric Language Dominance of Language-Disordered, Articulation-Disordered, and Normal Children

Abstract

This study compared the hemispheric dominance for language of three groups of 6-to 9year-olds (10 language-disordered, 10 articulation-disordered, and 10 normal children). Two dichotic listening tests (digits and animal names) were administered. Statistical analysis revealed a left hemisphere dominance for the control and articulation-disordered groups but no significant hemisphere differences for the languagedisordered group. The results support the hypothesis that the language-disordered child has an unlateralized cerebral dominance for language, while the articulation-disordered child has normal left cerebral hemisphere dominance for language. Furthermore, there is some evidence to suggest that the language-disordered child does not process auditory stimuli in the lefthemisphere as efficiently as the articulation-disordered or normal child. These results also suggest the importance of developing strategies in the management of these disorders.

Relationship of the Southern California Sensory Integration Tests, the Southern California Postrotary Nystagmus Test, and Clinical Observations Accompanying Them to Evaluations in Otolaryngology, Ophthalmology, and Audiology: Two Descriptive Case Studies

“…Subject 2 obtained left to right ear ratio of l.l, which indicated atypicallateralization of language (17). Results of the Berlin Dichotic Consonant Vowel Test on Subject 2 are similar to the findings of Pettit and Helms, who reportedthatchildren with language disorders do not have lateralized cerebral dominance for language (29).…”