Effects of otorhinolaryngological diseases and socioeconomic status on school performance: a survey study

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of otorhinolaryngological (ORL) diseases and socioeconomic status (SES) on school performance.

This study was conducted in three primary schools located in Düzce. Of three schools, two schools (group A) are located in the suburb area of the city and students had a low SES. The other one (group B) is in the center of the city and students had a high SES. A total of 1282 (urban 609 and rural 673) students attending to these three schools were examined considering the ORL diseases. SES of the students were evaluated according to the mean monthly income within the family, educational level of parents and occupation, presence of conflict within the family, and smoking habits. School performance of the children is ranged between 1 and 5. School success of students were evaluated by asking their educators.

The mean (S.D.) age was 9.15 (1.48) years (range, 7-12). The students in group B were observed as more successful than that of group A. A major finding in this study is that the incidence of ORL diseases in the rural school is high and it was found that when ORL diseases increased, the mean school success grade of the students decreased in group B. The otological diseases were found to have an effect on school performance more than the other ORL diseases independently of SES. When we analyzed the effect of SES on school performance, we found that the students' school grade level in group A was low.

ORL diseases are more commonly detected in the primary schools with lower socioeconomic level than the other and we found that the effects of ORL diseases and SES on school performance in group B was low.