Minimal Brain Dysfunction and Otitis Media

Abstract

The frequency of otitis media among 22 hyperactive children with learning disorders was compared with the frequency of otitis media in a sample of 772 normal children, using the same criteria for the diagnosis of otitis media in both groups. The groups were matched for social class and age when studied (7 to 13 yr. of age). A significantly higher percentage of hyperactive children (54%) had more than 6 episodes of otitis media than was found in the normal group (15%). Thirty-six % of hyperactive children had more than 10 episodes compared to 5% in the normal sample. There was no difference in the percentage of children with no episodes of otitis media (18%). Several alternative hypotheses are offered as possible mechanisms to account for these data.

Early Childhood Otitis Media in Relation to Children's Attention-Related Behavior in the First Six Years of Life

“…Although some studies have reported similarly that a history of OME was not related to later attention-related behaviors, 15-20 others have reported significant associations between history of OME and later attention and behavior. [7][8][9][10][11][12][13] Consistent with findings from the recent study by Paradise and colleagues, 16 the present study found that children with more extensive OME or hearing loss histories were no more likely than children with less extreme histories to have difficulties with attention, hyperactivity, or behavior.…”

“…[7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] Still other studies have found no significant correlation between OME and attention or behavior. [15][16][17][18][19][20] Unfortunately, many of these studies had methodological problems including retrospective study design, which is threatened by recall bias, 7,10,[17][18][19] imprecise OME detection methods, 7,10,[17][18][19] and use of only teacher or parent reports of attention and behavior. 8 -17,19 Attention is a multidimensional construct that has been generally defined as the responsiveness or capacity to react (both internally and externally) to the environment.…”

Parental Stress and Parent-rated Child Behavior in Relation to Otitis Media in the First Three Years of Life

“…Most previously reported studies relating parentchild stress and/or children's behavior to the children's previous experience with otitis media have had retrospective 1,7,8,[13][14][15] or cross-sectional 2,6,10 designs, and most have considered only children Ͼ3 years of age. [2][3][4]5,7,8,10,[12][13][14][15] The cross-sectional studies have, of necessity, related behavioral measures only to concurrent and not to past experience with otitis media, and thus provide little insight into possible lasting, long-term relationships.…”

“…[2][3][4]5,7,8,10,[12][13][14][15] The cross-sectional studies have, of necessity, related behavioral measures only to concurrent and not to past experience with otitis media, and thus provide little insight into possible lasting, long-term relationships. The retrospective studies have been limited by their inherently questionable ascertainment of both the presence and the absence of otitis media throughout time.…”

Central auditory processing in children with a history of chronic middle ear problems

“…In a group of young learning disabled children aged six to fourteen years, 33% were observed to have hearing losses, most of them mild to moderate in· severity and conductive in nature (Katz and Illmer, 1972). Similarly, Hersher (1978) found a 54% incidence of recurrent otitis media (six or more episodes) in hyperactive learning disabled children as compared to a 15% incidence in a control group matched for age. Stubblefield and Young (1975) link learning disabilities and central auditory dysfunction.…”