Study On Attention Character And Behavioral Problems Of The Children With Functional Articulation Disorder

ObjectiveFunctional articulation disorder (FAD) is the most common speech disorder , which is also called developmental articulation disorder. The cause of FAD is still not clear. Children with FAD often show accompanying communication difficulties in social relationships, emotional and behavioral problems, learning difficulties especially dyslexia in school - aged children. Long - period follow -up investigation abroad reveals children with FAD are less likely to attend college and more likely to hold jobs that involve unskilled labor than those without a history of articulation disorder. This long - term effect is certainly related with the speech problem of children with FAD. However, it will be still investigated in the further research if it is related with attention deficit or behavioral problems in these patients. There is not only be of great benefit to the health of the children , but also returns possibility as to investigate the etiology through administering related mental evolution to the children with FAD, discovering probable problems and giving early interference.MethodsWe adopted case control study. Patients were the children aged 6 ~ 14 years with articulation disorders diagnosed in our department from January 2005 to February 2006. 32 children met the criteria of FAD and without attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. 37 Children matched in age, gender and intelligence quotient with the subjects were selected as controls. After excluding children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, a general information questionnairewas completed at first, which included illness in pregnancy, perinatal situation, past history and family disease history, parents'educational level and profession, family structure, etc. China - Weshsler intelligence scale for children was administered to evaluate children's intelligence. The attention test of all the children were studied with the software of integrated visual and auditory continuous performance test (IVA - CPT) . The parents of the subjects were directed to finish the Child Behavior Checklist ( CBCL). Multiple regression analysis was conducted with SPSS software. Independent - Sample t - test was used to analyze attention quotient and behavioral factors. Chi - square test was used to analyze categorical variables.Results1. Analysis of general information about all the subjectsThe result showed that there were no significant differences about age, gender, parents'educational level and profession, family structure, numbers of family, factors in pregnancy and delivery between the two groups, but significant difference was found about positive family history.2. Independent risk factors relating to attentionVariables including age, gender, FIQ, VIQ, PIQ, parent's educational levels were conducted by multiple regression analysis. We concluded that age is the independent risk factor to FSAQ, AAQ, VAQ.3. Analysis of sustained attention of FAD and control group Independent -Sample t -test was used to analyze attention quotient. TheFSAQ, AAQ of children in test group were both inferior to control group. The differences between groups were significant.4. Analysis of behavioral problem of FAD and control groupThe incidence of behavioral problem in children with FAD was higher than that of controls, but the difference was not significant. When the behavioral factors were compared to, we found significant difference in the gross score and the score of schizoidia, social problem, withdrawal and hyperactive factors between groups.ConclusionThe sustained attention of children with FAD were much inferior to normal children. The risk of behavioral problems of children with FAD is higher than their normal peers.