Jezični razvoj u djece s ranim žarišnim mozgovnim oštećenjem
Language development in children with early focal brain injury

Summary/Abstract: Language development in children with early focal brain injury is a topic about which is unfortunately still little known. This article reviews different of scientific researches that were concerned with the topic in the last decade. The main question continuously present through the articles is the real extent of the plasticity of a child brain. Taken together, these studies demonstrate the plasticity of the human nervous system at a behavioral and neurological level as well as the limitations of the plasticity. Although language achievements in children with early focal brain injury are generally good, most of them have moderate to severe initial setback. At the earliest stages, their comprehension and expression are worse than those of their peers, especially if it is the case of left hemisphere damage. It is for this reason that is important to look for the proof of the connection between a specific lesion and specific symptoms at the earliest stages of language development, before a "new brain map" could take effect. Although children with brain injury improve significantly over time, they catch up with their peers with great difficultly because the difficulties present in their language capabilities emerge every time they encounter new language challenges. Thus in their school days these children have problems with their phonological working memory and consequently difficulties in reading and writing.

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