Psychiatry Research EG

Introduction Severe speech and language disorders in young children can negatively affect later educational achievement, even after intensive intervention unless early intervention is initiated. Aim The aim was to investigate speech and language impairment in a sample of children and its possible etiological factors and to assess electroencephalogram (EEG) and MRI findings in them. Participants and methods A total of 43 children with speech and language impairment referred to Psychiatry Department, Al Zahraa University hospital, during the period from April 2016 to January 2017 and 28 children with normal language development as control group, aged 3–6 years old, were subjected to clinical psychiatric assessment, Wechsler intelligence scale for children, EEG, and brain MRI. Results The total number of cases was 43 [30 male (69.8%) and 13 female (30.2%) patients]; there was a statistical significance regarding positive family history of illness, parental education, work of the mother, and delayed speech among siblings. The presence of antenatal medical problem, antenatal drug intake, and neonatal morbidity shows a statistical significance. Overall, 27.9% of cases had previous history of delayed milestones of growth and corporal punishment; verbal abuse is the method used to discipline them. Moreover, 25.6% of cases had separation trouble at early school experience and reported to be follower or isolated in their peer relationship. Intelligence quotient assessment showed that 34.9% of cases had borderline intellectual functioning. There was a statistically significant difference between cases and control regarding abnormal EEG findings. Overall, 9.4% of cases had abnormal MRI finding. Conclusion In the current study, we found that speech and language impairment is a multietiological disorder, and early recognition will permit early intervention.