Abstract
Objective The study aimed to assess the use of Integrated Mismatch Negativity (MMNi) in differentiating
children with specific language impairment (SLI) from a control group.
Design Six conditions were created using a 1,000-Hz standard stimulus with three deviants
of 1,020, 1,050, or 1,100 Hz and two interstimulus intervals of 400 and 200 ms. Recordings
were processed offline using NeuroScan Edit (NeuroScan, Texas, United States). Four
time analysis points were chosen and the magnitude of the integrated deviant was compared
with the 100 standard subaverages. Mismatch negativity (MMN) presence was determined
when 10 or less of the standard subaverages were less than the deviant subaverage
magnitude.
Study Participants A total of 18 children with SLI and 35 typical development children participated
in the study.
Results Pearson chi-square test demonstrated that the proportion of MMN presence in the SLI
group was not significantly different from the control group and it did not vary with
condition. Two-way between-group analysis of variance confirmed that using 1,000 Hz
standard, 1,050 Hz deviant, and 400 ms interstimulus interval was significantly different
from the other conditions.
Conclusion MMNi does not serve as a tool for identifying children with SLI when using pure-tone
stimuli. However, using different time analysis points with MMNi should be explored
further, particularly with speech material.
Keywords
mismatch negativity - specific language impairment - identification
