Effect of otitis media with effusion on comodulation masking release in children

This study investigated comodulation masking release (CMR) in a group of children with a history of otitis media with effusion (OME) and a control group of children with no known history of ear disease. CMR was measured both in a monotic condition and in a dichotic condition (where comodulated flanking bands were added to the ear contralateral to the signal). CMR was measured before the insertion of pressure equalization tubes, approximately 1 to 3 months after surgery, and approximately 6 to 8 months after surgery. The results indicated that monotic CMRs were reduced in children who had hearing loss due to OME. Furthermore, the monotic CMR remained abnormally small even when threshold had returned to normal for 1 to 3 months. The monotic CMR was essentially normal 6 to 8 months following surgery. No differences were found between the two groups of children for the dichotic CMR.