Middle East Current Psychiatry · Published 2026-04-22 · DOI 10.1186/s43045-026-00631-4
Abstract Background Specific learning disorder (SLD), particularly dyslexia, represents a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition whose relationship with neurological soft signs requires further elucidation in Arabic-speaking populations. This study investigated correlations between auditory psycholinguistic abilities and neurological soft signs in children with SLD, dyslexia subtype. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on 50 Arabic-speaking Egyptian children aged 6 to 11 years diagnosed with SLD. The total auditory psycholinguistic abilities were assessed using the Illinois Test of Psycholinguistic Abilities (Arabic version) (ITPA) and neurological soft signs using the Quick Neurological Screening Test (QNST). Results Participants demonstrated markedly reduced auditory psycholinguistic ages relative to chronological age (mean 9.04 ± 2.03 years), with auditory sequential memory most compromised (5.33 ± 1.62 years). Neurological screening revealed a high burden of soft signs: 86% exhibited abnormal tandem walking and figure recognition, and 100% showed impaired left–right discrimination. Significant associations emerged between lower total psycholinguistic age and poorer performance on thumb–finger circle (p = 0.008), tandem walk (p = 0.014), and behavioral irregularities (p = 0.011). Auditory processing age correlated significantly with tandem walk (p = 0.012), double simultaneous stimulation (p = 0.002), sound pattern imitation (p = 0.011), and eye tracking (p = 0.032). Auditory association showed the strongest relationships with multiple neurological domains (p < 0.001). Conclusions Children with SLD exhibit co-occurring psycholinguistic and neurological deficits, supporting cerebellar and multisystem involvement in dyslexia pathophysiology. Integrated assessment protocols combining psycholinguistic profiling with structured neurological screening are recommended to inform comprehensive rehabilitation strategies. Graphical Abstract Psycholinguistic abilities and neurological soft signs in Arabic-speaking children with dyslexia. (A) Study cohort: 50 Arabic-speaking Egyptian children (6–11 years, 78% male) with SLD-dyslexia subtype assessed using IPLT (psycholinguistic ages) and QNST (neurological soft signs). (B) Key findings: Markedly reduced auditory psycholinguistic ages (sequential memory: 5.33±1.62 years; association: 6.29±1.45 years; reception: 7.68±1.89 years) and high neurological soft sign burden (tandem walking: 86%, figure recognition: 86%, left–right discrimination: 100% abnormal). (C) Correlation map: Significant associations between lower auditory psycholinguistic age and multiple neurological domains (tandem walk, thumb–finger circle, double simultaneous stimulation, sound pattern imitation, eye tracking, behavioral irregularities), indicating cerebellar/multisystem involvement. (D) Clinical implications: Integrated IPLT-QNST assessment informs multidisciplinary intervention targeting language/phonological training, rhythm/timing practice, balance/coordination, and multisensory integration for neurodevelopmentally grounded rehabilitation. IPLT, Illinois Test of Psycholinguistic Abilities (Arabic version); QNST, Quick Neurological Screening Test (Arabic-adapted); SLD, specific learning disorder; OSS, double simultaneous stimulation.
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