Van Herck, S. , Glatz, T. , De Vos, A. . , Van Hirtum, T. . , Vandermosten, M. , Ghesquière, P. & Wouters, J. .
KU Leuven - University of Leuven
Deficits in auditory temporal processing and synchronization of neural oscillations to auditory input are underlying some of the phonological processing problems in dyslexia. At the same time, emphasizing onset cues and reinforcing the temporal structure of the speech envelope, i.e. envelope enhancement, showed potential to reduce speech perception deficits in higher education students with dyslexia. Here, we provided a preventive intervention to kindergarteners at cognitive risk for dyslexia and investigated their auditory temporal processing with Auditory Steady State Responses (ASSR). A sample of 120 children at cognitive risk for dyslexia (aged 5) was divided into four groups, playing a story listening game either with (n=30) or without (n=60) envelope enhancement or acting as passive non-playing controls (n=30). Training took place six times a week at home on tablets, for a period of 12 weeks. Auditory perceptive measures and ASSRs to 4 and 20 Hz amplitude modulation were collected directly before and after the intervention. We will discuss the intervention-induced changes on ASSR and auditory perceptive task performance, and hence the impact of a preventive intervention on auditory processing deficits in children at cognitive risk for dyslexia.