关键词: 孤独症, 儿童, 言语诱发的听性脑干反应, 语言水平

Abstract: Objective To explore the characteristics and differences on speech-evoked auditory brainstem responses (speech-ABR) between children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and healthy children,and to investigate the relationship between speech-ABR and language development level. Methods Totally 18 healthy children and 15 children with ASD were enrolled in this study.The children's ability assessment was performed by specialists by using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS),the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS),and the Gesell Development Diagnosis Scale (GDDS).All participants were tested by speech-ABR examinations.The latency,duration and amplitude of each wave were recorded. Results All waves latency of transient responses of speech-ABR in ASD children were delayed.Latency of sustained responses of E wave and F wave were significantly delayed.The language scores in GDDS were negatively correlated with the wave V,wave A and wave F latency in ASD(r=-0.525,-0.563,-0.580,P=0.04,0.029,0.024). Conclusion Brainstem deficits in ASD are manifested in the reduction of nerve synchronization.Brainstem and cortical encoding of speech sounds dysfunction may contribute to the language and social communication impairment in ASD.

Key words: autism spectrum disorder, children, speech-evoked auditory brainstem responses, language proficiency