Early Otitis Media Research Articles

Medical profile of the language-delayed child: otitis-prone versus otitis-free

Delay in language development may be associated with an underlying anatomical, neurosensory, or psychological disorder such as: deafness, cerebral palsy, cleft palate, autism, or mental retardation. A condition called specific developmental language delay may occur in children devoid of any other identifiable disorder or developmental delay. Language delay associated with early onset, severe-to-profound hearing impairment has been well documented. Controversial studies have also appeared in the communicative disorders' literature suggesting that fluctuating conductive hearing loss in early childhood can significantly affect the development of language and related academic skills. Some authors have claimed that these deleterious effects can be irreversible. This study focuses on 3 groups of preschool children, in whom hearing acuity has been documented: One group with recurrent otitis and language delay; a second group with an equally well documented otitis history but without language delay; and a third group with documented language delay in the absence of any known predisposing conditions, including early-onset, recurrent otitis media. Prenatal, birth and developmental histories of the children in each group were compared in detail to identify any factors which may enhance or ameliorate the effects of fluctuating conductive hearing loss on language development. In a population of 1864 children (ages 9-59 months) referred for otolaryngologic and/or communicative evaluation, 480 otherwise normal children (67.6% males; 32.4% females) were found to have a history of early-onset, recurrent otitis media and/or delayed speech and language development on the basis of an extensive evaluation battery. This population was further subdivided into 3 groups (I = otitis-positive/normal language; II = otitis-positive/language delay; and III = otitis-free/language delay). Among the 329 children with positive histories for early otitis media (Groups I & II), a significantly higher percentage of those demonstrating language delay were from homes in the lower socio-economic category. Race and sex showed no significant relationship to language delay among the otitis-positive groups, although males were twice as numerous as females in the over-all study population. Articulation errors on speech measures and borderline delays in other developmental milestones (standing, walking, and toilet training) were also significantly greater in the language-delayed group when compared with otitis-positive children whose language was age-appropriate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

A 5-year prospective case-control study of the influence of early otitis media with effusion on reading achievement.

In a still ongoing prospective longitudinal study, more than 500 children--a total birth-cohort in a Danish municipality--were followed from their 3rd to their 9th year of life by multiple impedance tests in order to investigate a number of factors concerning epidemiology and long-term impacts of otitis media with effusion. This is a report on the influence of otitis media with effusion early in life on reading achievement. The study revealed no difference in school-class level between the 9% of the children (n = 46) who constantly had abnormal tympanometry during a 6-month period at the age of 3, and the other pupils in the municipality. At the Silent Reading Test (OS-400), done on 40 of the 46 case-pupils the results did not differ from (1) the other pupils in the municipality, (2) from other pupils of the same sex in the same classroom, or (3) from individual control-pupils matched by sex, social group and classroom.

Otitis Media During Early Life: How Hazardous to Development? A Critical Review of the Evidence

In a number of recent reports1-3 developmental impairments of a lasting nature have been attributed to prolonged or repeated episodes of otitis media occurring during the first one to three years of life. The impairments described include intellectural and learning difficulties,1,2,4-8,10-13 impaired speech and language,3,5,8,9,11-13 and disturbed behavior.7,8 In some of the reports1,12 the impairments have been referred to as permanent or irreversible. These reports, having appeared in publications directed respectively to physicians,2-4,6,8-13 speech-language-hearing professionals,1-3,5 educators,11 and psychologists,7,12 and in some instances having been cited in widely disseminated professional and lay news media (reference 14; Newsweek, June 14, 1976, p 47; New York Times, Dec 26, 1978, p C2) quite naturally have aroused broad anxiety and concern. The reports also have served to provide the impetus, or the justification, not only for aggressive casefinding programs, but also, in infants and children with recognized middle-ear effusions, for early recourse to aggressive modes of treatment, most often in the form of myringotomy and tympanostomy tube insertion. The purpose of the present report is to review critically the body of evidence on which the supposed relationship between early otitis media and later developmental impairments is based. DISEASE PROCESS In the typical case of acute otitis media, pus fills the middle-ear cavity. Sooner or later the infection begins to subside—with or without the help of antimicrobial drugs—and the initially purulent middle-ear liquid changes in character, coming to resemble serum, mucus, or even glue. With continued healing the Eustachian tube gradually recovers its ventilatory function, and the middle-ear liquid eventually is resorbed, or drains, and becomes replaced by air.

Otitis Media During Early Life: How Hazardous to Development? A Critical Review of the Evidence

In a number of recent reports1-3 developmental impairments of a lasting nature have been attributed to prolonged or repeated episodes of otitis media occurring during the first one to three years of life. The impairments described include intellectural and learning difficulties,1,2,4-8,10-13 impaired speech and language,3,5,8,9,11-13 and disturbed behavior.7,8 In some of the reports1,12 the impairments have been referred to as permanent or irreversible. These reports, having appeared in publications directed respectively to physicians,2-4,6,8-13 speech-language-hearing professionals,1-3,5 educators,11 and psychologists,7,12 and in some instances having been cited in widely disseminated professional and lay news media (reference 14; Newsweek, June 14, 1976, p 47; New York Times, Dec 26, 1978, p C2) quite naturally have aroused broad anxiety and concern. The reports also have served to provide the impetus, or the justification, not only for aggressive casefinding programs, but also, in infants and children with recognized middle-ear effusions, for early recourse to aggressive modes of treatment, most often in the form of myringotomy and tympanostomy tube insertion. The purpose of the present report is to review critically the body of evidence on which the supposed relationship between early otitis media and later developmental impairments is based. DISEASE PROCESS In the typical case of acute otitis media, pus fills the middle-ear cavity. Sooner or later the infection begins to subside—with or without the help of antimicrobial drugs—and the initially purulent middle-ear liquid changes in character, coming to resemble serum, mucus, or even glue. With continued healing the Eustachian tube gradually recovers its ventilatory function, and the middle-ear liquid eventually is resorbed, or drains, and becomes replaced by air.

Presentation of early otitis media in ‘Top End’ Aboriginal infants

Presentation of early otitis media in ‘Top End’ Aboriginal infants