Evaluation of efferent system function in 5 to 8 years old children with phonological disorders

Unlike the afferent system, there is a paucity of data regarding the role of efferent hearing system in different aspects of language processing such as phonological processing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efferent hearing system in children with phonological disorders. In this study, 20 children with normal hearing, of both genders, who aged between 5 and 8 years were divided in to two groups of children without phonological disorders (n = 11, comprising the control group) and those with phonological disorders (n = 9, serving as the study group). The study included only those children whose hearing thresholds were below or equal to 15 dB, had a type tympanometry and their acoustic reflexes were present. TEOAE and TEOAE suppression were carried out to evaluate the function of the medial olivocochlear system in both groups. There was no significant difference in the analyzed frequencies when the control and study groups were compared according to the mean effects of suppressive TEOAE. Children with phonological disorders do not show any alterations in the medial olivocochlear system.