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Behavioral Assessment of Hearing in 2 to 4 Year-old Children: A Two-interval, Observer-based Procedure Using Conditioned Play-based Responses
14:05

Behavioral Assessment of Hearing in 2 to 4 Year-old Children: A Two-interval, Observer-based Procedure Using Conditioned Play-based Responses

Published on: January 23, 2017

Impaired binaural hearing in children produced by a threshold level of middle ear disease

Sarah C M Hogan1, David R Moore

  • 1University Laboratory of Physiology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PT, United Kingdom.

Journal of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology : JARO
|August 29, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Otitis media with effusion (OME) affects most young children, potentially causing language delays. This study found that prolonged OME in early childhood is linked to lasting binaural hearing issues in six-year-olds.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Otolaryngology
  • Audiology

Background:

  • Otitis media with effusion (OME) is a prevalent childhood condition, frequently leading to medical visits and surgeries.
  • OME can cause temporary hearing loss, impacting language development during critical early years.
  • Previous research on OME's long-term effects, particularly on central auditory processing, is limited by study populations and data collection methods.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between cumulative Otitis media with effusion (OME) exposure and residual binaural hearing deficits in six-year-old children.
  • To identify specific risk factors for persistent auditory impairment following OME.
  • To provide a detailed prospective history of middle ear status in children studied.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective study of six-year-old children with a documented lifetime history of OME.
  • Assessment of cumulative OME duration over the first five years of life.
  • Evaluation of residual binaural hearing in participants.

Main Results:

  • Children with Otitis media with effusion (OME) for more than half of their first five years consistently exhibited impaired binaural hearing at age six.
  • A significant correlation was observed between the cumulative duration of OME and the severity of residual binaural hearing deficits.
  • This finding highlights a critical threshold of OME exposure linked to long-term auditory consequences.

Conclusions:

  • Prolonged Otitis media with effusion (OME) exposure in early childhood is a significant risk factor for persistent binaural hearing impairment.
  • Identifying children with extensive OME history is crucial for early intervention and management of potential auditory processing disorders.
  • This study underscores the importance of monitoring hearing in children with recurrent or chronic OME.

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