Vestibular Stimulation Promotes Neuroplasticity in the Auditory Cortex in a Group of Children with Speech Delay

Abstract

The article presents the results of a study on the impact of vestibular stimulation on the neuroplasticity of the auditory cortex and language development in preschool children with speech delay (SD). Such issues in children aged 4–7 years are among the primary challenges in speech therapy and neuropsychology. The study involved 40 children aged 4 to 7 years with speech delay (SD), divided into an experimental group and a control group. Assessments included standard electroencephalography (EEG), the standardized Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT), and the Expressive Vocabulary Test (EVT). Data were analyzed using the t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA). After 12 weeks, the experimental group demonstrated statistically significant improvements in speech skills (p < 0.05), including a 25% increase in receptive vocabulary, a 30% increase in spontaneous language use, and improved grammatical structures. Neurophysiological data indicated a 15% increase in auditory cortex activity, a 10% reduction in the P1 component, and a 20% increase in the amplitude of the P300 component, compared to the control group. Vestibular stimulation proved to be an effective method for enhancing auditory cortex neuroplasticity and speech development in SD children.