Abstract
The study examines the relationships that exist between early recurrent otitis media, language and central auditory processing in children. A retrospective case-control experimental design was employed and ten subjects were allocated to each of the two research groups, namely children with a history of early recurrent otitis media (research group 1) and children without a history of early recurrent otitis media (research group 2). The children in both research groups were in grade one and turning 7 years old. The language and central auditory processing of the subjects were assessed using the Clinical Evaluation of Language Function (Wiig & Semel, 1980) and the Willeford Battery of Central Auditory Function (Willeford, 1974). The results showed that the language and central auditory processing of the children with a history of early recurrent otitis media were significantly poorer than that of their disease-free peers. The results stress the importance of vigorous identification and management programmes for children with a history of early recurrent otitis media.
Highlights
The study examines the relationships that exist between early recurrent otitis media, language and central auditory processing in children
Shriberg & Kwiatowski (1982, cited in Friel-Patti, 1990) have estimated that one-third of children seen by the speech-language pathologist and audiologist have a history of early recurrent otitis media
This section is presented according to the formulated sub-aims and entails a description and comparison of the language and central auditory processing of research groups 1 and 2
Summary
The study examines the relationships that exist between early recurrent otitis media, language and central auditory processing in children. The results showed that the language and central auditory processing of the children with a history of early recurrent otitis media were significantly poorer than that of their disease-free peers. Die taal en sentrale ouditiewe prosessering van die proefpersone is geevalueer met behulp van die "Clinical Evaluation of Language Function" (Wiig & Semel, 1980) en die 'Willeford Battery of Centrdl Auditory Function" (WMeford, 1974). Shriberg & Kwiatowski (1982, cited in Friel-Patti, 1990) have estimated that one-third of children seen by the speech-language pathologist and audiologist have a history of early recurrent otitis media. There is strong support in the literature for associations between early recurrent otitis media and central auditory processing disorders, this evidence is largely based on the results of animal studies (Tees, 1967; Clopton & Silverman, 1978; Webster, 1983) and a limited number of human studies (Folsom, Weber & Thompson, 1983; Finitzo, Gunnarson & Clark, 1990; Hurley & Hurley, 1995)
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