To determine the epidemiology of acute otitis media (AOM) and duration of middle ear effusion (MEE), we followed consecutively enrolled children from shortly after birth until 7 y of age. Because some children dropped out of the study, data were analyzed for 877 children observed for at least 1 y; 698 were observed for at least 3 y, and 498 were observed until 7 y of age. By 1 y of age, 62% of the children had greater than or equal to 1 episode of AOM and 17% had greater than or equal to 3 episodes; by 3 y of age, 83% had greater than or equal to 1 episode of AOM and 46% had greater than or equal to 3 episodes. The peak incidence occurred during the second 6-mo period of life. Significantly increased risk (by multivariate analysis) for AOM was associated with male gender, sibling history of recurrent AOM, early occurrence of AOM, and not being breast fed. MEE persisted after onset of AOM for weeks to months; prolonged duration of MEE was associated with male gender, sibling history of ear infection, and not being breast fed.

To determine intellectual and linguistic sequelae of middle ear disease, 207 children were randomly selected from a cohort of 498 followed prospectively from birth until age 7 years. After controlling for confounding variables, estimated time spent with middle ear effusion (MEE) during the first 3 years of life was significantly associated with lower scores on tests of cognitive ability, speech and language, and school performance at age 7 years. The adjusted mean full-scale WISC-R were 113.1 for those with least time with MEE, 107.5 for those with moderate time, and 105.4 for those with most time. Similar significant differences were found for verbal and performance IQ scores. For the Metropolitan Achievement Test, we found that middle ear disease in the first 3 years of life was associated with significantly lower scores in mathematics and reading. Similar differences were found for articulation and use of morphologic markers. After considering time spent with MEE during the first 3 years of life, time spent after age 3 years was not a significant predictor of scores on any of the tests administered.

To determine the epidemiology of otitis media (OM) during the first three years of life, physicians participating in the Greater Boston Collaborative Otitis Media Program followed prospectively from birth 2,565 children. At every visit we recorded results of pneumatic otoscopy and epidemiology data. By three years of age 71% of the children had had one or more episodes of acute otitis media including 33% who had three or more episodes. Features associated significantly with first episode of OM were: sibling with recurrent OM, race (white > black), and sex (male > female). Having a sibling with allergy disposed propositi to first episode. Features associated significantly with recurrent OM (≥ three episodes) were those noted above. A parent with recurrent OM disposed propositi to recurrent OM. Middle ear effusion (MEE) persisted for prolonged periods after OM; after the first episode of OM, 70% of children still had MEE at two weeks, 40% had fluid at one month, 20% had fluid at two months, and 10% had fluid at three months. The sole feature associated significantly with persistent effusion in the middle ear after the first episode of OM was the practice of giving a child a bottle in bed.

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To determine the association between time spent with middle ear effusion and development of speech and language, 205 three-year-old children were studied. Each child had been followed prospectively from birth to record the number of episodes of middle ear disease and to document time spent with middle ear effusion. Standardized tests of speech and language were administered at age 3 years to children who had spent much time with middle ear effusion and to children who had spent little or no time with middle ear effusion. Children who had spent prolonged periods of time with middle ear effusion had significantly lower scores when compared with those who had spent little time with middle ear disease. The correlation was strongest in children from higher socio-economic strata. Time spent with middle ear effusion in the first 6 to 12 months of life was most strongly associated with poor scores.

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