Wetherby A M, Koegel R L, Mendel M
J Speech Hear Res. 1981 Sep;24(3):420-9. doi: 10.1044/jshr.2403.420.
Accumulating evidence indicates either a primary or secondary cortical dysfunction in the language-dominant hemisphere of autistic children. In this study, the central auditory function of six autistic subjects was assessed experimentally using a battery of tests which included the Staggered Spondaic Word Test, the Competing Environmental Sound Test, and monaural hearing tests, as well as supplementary measures of language and handedness. The autistic subjects ranged from 8 to 24 years in age and displayed a wide range of language abilities and severity of echolalia. The results showed that all the subjects had normal hearing on the monaural speech tests; however, there was indication of central auditory nervous system dysfunction in the language dominant hemisphere, inferred from the dichotic tests, for those subjects displaying echolalia. Essentially normal dichotic test results were obtained for those subjects who were previously diagnosed as autistic but were not longer echolalic. One subject who received a year of intensive language treatment was assessed periodically throughout the year to chart changes in performance on the test of central auditory function for dichotic stimuli. This subject showed changes in the dichotic test of central auditory function which were consistent with the language improvement shown during the year. For each subject, the locus of central auditory dysfunction indicated by the assessment measures was consistent with the characterized language deficits. The results are discussed from a neurolinguistic framework in an effort to delineate a neurogenic etiology of autistic language deficits.
越来越多的证据表明，自闭症儿童语言优势半球存在原发性或继发性皮质功能障碍。在本研究中，使用一系列测试对六名自闭症受试者的中枢听觉功能进行了实验评估，这些测试包括交错扬扬格词测试、竞争性环境声音测试和单耳听力测试，以及语言和利手的补充测量。自闭症受试者年龄在8至24岁之间，表现出广泛的语言能力和模仿言语的严重程度。结果显示，所有受试者在单耳言语测试中听力正常；然而，对于那些表现出模仿言语的受试者，从双耳分听测试推断，其语言优势半球存在中枢听觉神经系统功能障碍。对于那些先前被诊断为自闭症但不再有模仿言语的受试者，获得了基本正常的双耳分听测试结果。对一名接受了一年强化语言治疗的受试者在全年进行定期评估，以记录其对双耳刺激的中枢听觉功能测试表现的变化。该受试者在中枢听觉功能的双耳分听测试中表现出的变化与当年显示的语言改善一致。对于每个受试者，评估措施所表明的中枢听觉功能障碍部位与所表征的语言缺陷一致。从神经语言学框架对结果进行了讨论，以努力阐明自闭症语言缺陷的神经源性病因。
