Infant mismatch responses to speech-sound changes predict language development in preschoolers at risk for dyslexia

Objective We investigated how infant mismatch responses (MMRs), which have the potential for providing information on auditory discrimination abilities, could predict subsequent development of pre-reading skills and the risk for familial dyslexia. Methods We recorded MMRs to vowel, duration, and frequency deviants in pseudo-words at birth and 28months in a sample over-represented by infants with dyslexia risk. We examined MMRs’ associations with pre-reading skills at 28months and 4–5years and compared the results in subgroups with vs. without dyslexia risk. Results Larger positive MMR (P-MMR) at birth was found to be associated with better serial naming. In addition, increased mismatch negativity (MMN) and late discriminative negativity (LDN), and decreased P-MMR at 28months overall, were shown to be related to better pre-reading skills. The associations were influenced by dyslexia risk, which was also linked to poor pre-reading skills. Conclusions Neonatal MMRs, providing information about the maturity of the auditory system, are associated with the development of pre-reading skills. Speech-processing deficits may contribute to deficits in language acquisition observed in dyslexia. Significance Infant MMRs could work as predictive markers of atypical linguistic development during early childhood. Results may help in planning preventive and rehabilitation interventions in children at risk of learning impairments.