The Role of Genetic Factors in Specific Language Impairment
Bertuğ Sakın1, Hakan Beyaztaş2, Selman Aktaş3, Eray Metin Güler4, Hayati Sencer Polat51Department of Speech and Language Therapy, University of Health Sciences Türkiye, Hamidiye Faculty of Health Sciences, Istanbul, Türkiye2Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Health Sciences Türkiye, Hamidiye Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Türkiye
3Department of Biostatistics, University of Health Sciences Türkiye, Hamidiye Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Türkiye
4Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Health Sciences Türkiye, Hamidiye Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Türkiye; Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Health Sciences Türkiye, Haydarpaşa Numune Health Practice and Research Center, İstanbul, Türkiye
5Istanbul Private Çengelköy Final Anatolian High School, İstanbul, Türkiye
INTRODUCTION: The objective of this investigation was to determine the impact of genetic factors on SLI and to assess the role of oxidative stress and inflammation in SLI.
METHODS: A sample of 40 children, aged five, diagnosed with SLI by a licensed speech and language therapist, were selected for the study. The levels of oxidative stress (TAS, TOS, TT, and NT) and inflammation (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) were measured using photometric methods and commercially available kits. DNA damage analysis was performed using the Comet Assay technique.
RESULTS: The results showed that the levels of oxidative stress, inflammation, and DNA damage were significantly higher in the group that did not receive SLT, as compared to the control group. The levels of oxidative stress, inflammation, and DNA damage decreased significantly in the group receiving SLT compared to the group not receiving SLT.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: This study sheds light on the role of DNA damage in the presence of SLI in children and highlights the significance of oxidative stress and inflammation in Specific Language Impairment. Furthermore, it demonstrates that the levels of DNA damage, oxidative stress, and inflammation change positively with speech and language therapy support in children with Specific Language Impairments.
Manuscript Language: English