LANGUAGE-LEARNING IMPAIRMENT - INTEGRATING RESEARCH AND REMEDIATION

Timing cues present in the acoustic waveform of speech provide critica l information for the recognition and segmentation of the ongoing spee ch signal. Research has demonstrated that deficient temporal perceptio n rates, that have been shown to specifically disrupt acoustic process ing of speech, are related to specific language-based learning impairm ents (LLI). Temporal processing deficits correlate highly with the pho nological discrimination and processing deficits of these children. El ectrophysiological single cell mapping studies of sensory cortex in br ains of primates have shown that neural circuitry can be remapped afte r specific, temporally cohesive training regimens, demonstrating the d ynamic plasticity of the brain. Recently, we combined these two lines of research in a series of studies that addressed whether the temporal processing deficits seen in LLIs can be significantly modified throug h adaptive training aimed at reducing temporal integration thresholds. Simultaneously, we developed a computer algorithm that expanded and e nhanced the brief, rapidly changing acoustic segments within ongoing s peech and used this to provide intensive speech and language training exercises to these children. Results to date from two independent labo ratory experiments, as well as a large national clinical efficacy tria l, demonstrate that dramatic improvements in temporal integration thre sholds, together with speech and language comprehension abilities of L LI children, results from training with these new computer-based train ing procedures.