The Importance of Right Otitis Media in Childhood Language Disorders

Abstract

Studies relating chronic otitis media and language disorders in children have not reported consistent findings. We carried out the first selective study aimed at discerning the role of chronic right otitis media in children less than 3 years of age in language development. A total of 35 children were studied using a full linguistic protocol, auditory brainstem responses, and middle latency responses. Twelve children had a history of chronic exclusive right otitis media. Seventeen age-matched children were selected as controls. Also, three children having a history of chronic left otitis media were compared with three age-matched controls. Linguistic tests showed significant differences between patients and controls in phonetic, phonological, and syntax scores but not semantics. Correlation studies between linguistic scores and auditory evoked responses in the whole cohort showed a significant coefficient in phonetic and phonological domains. These results emphasize the causative effect of right ear chronic otitis media and indicate that it mainly impairs phonetic and phonological coding of sounds, which may have implications for prophylactic treatment of at-risk children.

A Brief Overview of Amblyaudia

“…Difficulty with binaural spatial hearing may have secondary effects on educational development because of linguistic and cognitive difficulties [18] [21]. Linguistic difficulties result from the impairments in phonetic and phonological coding of sounds [6] [22] and articulation and syntax impairments [23]. Cognitive difficulties are closely related with linguistic difficulties.…”

“…When one ear is developmentally deprived it causes the other ear to compensate and leads to weaknesses in the listener's binaural processing of auditory information [2]- [4]. Children who experience temporary hearing loss, most commonly from ear infections, are at an increased risk of developing amblyaudia [5] [6]. Characteristics of amblyaudia include speech comprehension difficulties, reading difficulties, information processing deficits, poor verbal working memory, poor adaptive skills, and inattention [7] [8].…”

Association between language and hearing disorders – risk identification

“…While some authors report that conductive hearing loss can negatively affect the development of speech and language 3-5, others have found the opposite 1,7-9.…”

Perfil da linguagem oral e do processamento fonológico de crianças com histórico de otite média

“…Alterações de orelha média e consequentes perdas auditivas são grandes causadores de alterações de linguagem (48,49) . Embora ainda seja controverso, estudos podem citar alguns fatores de risco para o desenvolvimento de OM.…”

“…Neste período há um grande crescimento sináptico e a presença de neuroplasticidade auditiva. Desta forma intercorrências como otite média de repetição nos primeiros anos de vida podem interferir no desenvolvimento auditivo (48) .…”