Effect of otitis media with effusion on brainstem timing in children

Abstract

Objective: Otitis media with effusion (OME) in early childhood may cause a central auditory processing disorder. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of prolonged OME in children on central auditory function using speech-ABR. Study design: Fifty-five children (31 males, 24 females) with bilateral OME were included in the present study. Their ages ranged from five to 11 years. According to the duration of the OME, the study group was divided into two groups: Group I (25 subjects with OME of long duration) and Group II (30 subjects with recent-onset OME). Responses to click evoked auditory brainstem response (click-ABR) and speech evoked auditory brainstem response (speech-ABR) were collected from the study groups I and II.Results: A Student's t-test revealed non-significant differences between groups I and II regarding different click-ABR parameters; absolute and interpeak latencies (I–III, III–V, and I–V). There were significant temporally delayed speech-ABR responses for the onset and offset of the stimulus (waves V, A and O), and reduction in VA slope in Group I compared to Group II. Conclusion: The findings suggest that OME of long duration in children is associated with deficient neural timing in response to the onset and offset of transient speech stimuli, resulting in a subtle impairment of speech encoding at the brainstem.