The Language and Auditory Perceptual Skills of Febrile Convulsion Children

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Kinneen, Libby

Affiliations: Principal Speech & Language Therapist, Health Centre, Shantalla, Galway

Abstract: It is reported in the literature that children with a history of febrile convulsions (f.c.) are more likely to develop speech and/or language problems, than their non-convulsing peers. (Robinson, 1987; Schiottz-Christensen and Bruhn, 1973, Verity et al 1985 and Wallace 1988). Although these studies cite incidence figures, they fail to specify the exact nature of the speech and/or language problem presenting. This paper reports a study comparing aspects of receptive and expressive language (including phonology) and auditory skills of children with a history of f.c. with matched controls. Findings suggest that slthough f.c. children are in more need of speech & language therapy, they develop language and auditory perceptual skills in a similar pattern to non-convulsing children, but there are indications that some differences exist between the groups in phonological development.

Keywords: Language, Phonology, Auditory Perception, Febrile Convulsions

DOI: 10.3233/ACS-1991-1107

Journal: Journal of Clinical Speech and Language Studies, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 60-75, 1991