Polyunsaturated fatty acids supplementation can improve specific language impairment in preschool children: a pilot study

Abstract

Abstract Background Speech and language are one of the higher cognitive brain functions. Language delay is one of the major concerns of child health in Egypt. Speech therapy is the standard management in language delay. Objective We aimed to investigate the potential role of dietary supplementation with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in improving specific language impairment. Subjects and methods A total of 220 children (ages 3–4) were included in this study at the Phonetics Department, Helwan School of Medicine, Egypt, during the period from 2015 to 2018. Children received comprehensive neurological examination and intelligence quotient (IQ) test to exclude the other causes of language delay. Language evaluation was performed using the Arabic language test. They either received family counseling, speech therapy (45 min; 3 times a week for 16 weeks), and PUFA supplementation 500 mg twice daily (group A) or only counseling and speech therapy (group B). Language quotient (LQ) was calculated before and after treatment. Results Our results show that LQ significantly improved in group A compared with group B (p < 0.004). Conclusion Dietary supplementation with PUFA has a beneficial role in the management of specific language impairment along with speech therapy.