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Specificity in cognitive processing of dizziness descriptors in adolescents with high levels of alexithymia

https://doi.org/10.26907/2782-4756-2025-82-4-26-31

Abstract

The problems of cognitive processing of units describing various diseases are relevant to modern linguistics and interdisciplinary fields. Individuals with high levels of alexithymia experience particular difficulties in adequately perceiving units denoting sensations. Alexithymia is a specific type of cognitive status characterized by difficulties processing sensations, emotions, and feelings, as well as difficulties in their verbal externalization, which poses a significant challenge to clinical practices. A series of linguistically valid diagnostic instruments (scales and questionnaires) have already been developed for use in clinical practices for adult Russian-speaking alexithymic respondents, and a toolkit for children and adolescents is being developed. This article describes a procedure for studying how adolescents with low and high levels of alexithymia understand the descriptors used to diagnose dizziness and analyzes free descriptions of units associated with this state. The study included 50 adolescents aged 13 to 17 with low levels of alexithymia (control group) and 50 adolescents aged 13 to 17 with high levels of alexithymia (study group). Alexithymia was measured using the Alexithymia Questionnaire for Children (Russian version). Based on the linguistic analysis of the data, a dizziness questionnaire for adolescents with high levels of alexithymia was developed.

About the Author

E. Gorobets
Kazan Federal University
Russian Federation

Gorobets Elena Anatol’evna, Ph.D. in Philology, Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Applied and Experimental Linguistics, Leading Researcher of Neurocognitive Research Laboratory, Head of Center for Speech Pathology University Clinic

18 Kremlyovskaya Str., Kazan, 420008



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For citations:


Gorobets E. Specificity in cognitive processing of dizziness descriptors in adolescents with high levels of alexithymia. Philology and Culture. 2025;(4):26-31. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.26907/2782-4756-2025-82-4-26-31

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ISSN 2782-4756 (Print)