OBJECTIVETo investigate the central auditory processing function in children with functional articulation disorders (FAD), and possible causes of FAD.

METHODSTwenty-seven children with FAD were selected as the case group and 50 age-matched normal children were selected as the control group. The two groups were compared with respect to the following factors: percentage of individuals with a positive history of language development disorder, and the form, peak latency and peak amplitude of mismatch negativity (MMN) on auditory event-related potentials.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the case group had a significantly higher percentage of individuals with a positive history of language development disorder (70% vs 8%; P<0.01), a significantly prolonged peak latency of MMN (209 ± 31 ms vs 175 ± 32 ms; P<0.01), and an insignificantly lower peak amplitude of MMN (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSProlonged central auditory processing may be one of the causes of FAD in children.