Mediation effect of executive function in the relationship between language impairment and hyperactivity/inattention symptoms

doi:10.11852/zgetbjzz2019-1790

Abstract

Abstract: Objective To investigate whether executive function can mediate the effect of language impairments on hyperactivity/inattention symptoms or not,in order to provide evidence for diagnose and treatment of comorbidity of language impairment with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children.Methods The clinical data were retrospectively analyzed in 19 language impairment children(boys∶girls=12∶7),with average age of(57.5±11.8) months from September to November in 2014. Meanwhile 41 healthy children with normal language development(boys∶girls=29∶12) were selected as control group,with average age of(63.0±15.9) months. A case-control study was performed between two groups 1∶2 matched by age and sex. All data on language,executive functions,the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire(SDQ) and nonverbal intelligence quotient were collected. t-test was used to test the group differences on short-term memory(STM),inhibitory control and the SDQ hyperactivity/inattention scores. Bootstrapping was used to identify mediation effect of executive functions on the relationship between language impairment and hyperactivity/inattention symptoms. Results Children with language impairment had significantly poorer STM and inhibitory control functions(t=3.72,3.30, P＜0.01,Cohen′s d=0.96,0.82) than normal children. Moreover,children with language impairment scored significantly higher on the hyperactivity/inattention than normal children(t=-2.24,P=0.029,Cohen′s d =0.65). Bootstrapping results showed that short-term memory and inhibitory control had no evident mutual impact on language impairment′s effect for hyperactivity/inattention,but mediating effect of short-term memory and inhibitory control remained significant when testing independent mediating effect separately. And nonverbal IQ did not influence these results. Conclusion Language impairment′s influence for hyperactivity/inattention symptoms can be independently mediated by short-term memory and inhibitory control respectively.

Key words: language impairment, hyperactivity/inattention, executive function, short-term memory, inhibitory control

摘要： 目的分析执行功能是否能够在儿童语言障碍与多动/注意缺陷行为问题的相互关系中起到显著的调节作用,为儿童语言障碍和多动/注意缺陷障碍共病的诊治提供依据。方法收集2014年9-11月上海儿童医学中心确诊的语言障碍儿童19例(男∶女为12∶7),平均年龄(57.5±11.8)个月,选同期门诊健康体检的语言正常儿童41例(男∶女为29∶12),平均年龄(63.0±15.9)个月,采用年龄和性别1∶2配对病例对照研究,回顾性收集两组儿童的语言、执行功能、长处与困难问卷SDQ、非语言智力等资料。分析两组儿童神经认知功能的差异和多动/注意缺陷行为的差异。使用Bootstrapping分析短时记忆与抑制功能是否在语言障碍影响多动/注意缺陷行为发生的关系中存在显著的中介作用。结果语言障碍组儿童短时记忆与抑制控制均显著低于非语言障碍组儿童(t=3.72、3.30,P<0.01,效应值为0.96、0.82),SDQ多动/注意缺陷得分均显著高于正常组儿童(t=-2.24,P=0.029,效应值0.65)。短时记忆和抑制控制未产生显著的共同中介效应。探讨独立中介效应时,短时记忆与抑制功能均产生显著的中介作用,非语言智力不能影响这一过程。结论语言障碍儿童短时记忆与抑制控制均能够独立作为中介因素,影响语言障碍儿童产生多动/注意缺陷行为。但短时记忆与抑制控制不能够共同调节这一效应。

关键词: 语言障碍, 多动/注意缺陷, 执行功能, 短时记忆, 抑制控制

CLC Number:

R179

MA Xi-rui, ZHANG Yi-wen, LIN Yuan-yuan, LIU Xue-man, Lee Wendy. Mediation effect of executive function in the relationship between language impairment and hyperactivity/inattention symptoms[J]. journal1, 2019, 27(8): 824-827.

马希瑞, 章依文, 林媛媛, 刘雪曼, LeeWendy. 执行功能在语言障碍和多动/注意缺陷行为关系中的调节作用[J]. 中国儿童保健杂志, 2019, 27(8): 824-827.

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