Long-term effects of otitis media with effusion on language, reading and spelling

The long-term effects of early OME on language and educational attainment were studied in 47 children of 7-8 years of age who had participated in an earlier pre-school study on otitis media with effusion (OME) and language development. At pre-school age OME was diagnosed by quarterly tympanometric screens (maximum nine) and language was assessed by a standard Reynell test. At school age the ears of the children were assessed by otomicroscopy, tympanometry and audiometry, and the development status by several language, reading and spelling tests. The association between early OME and language development found at pre-school age was no longer present at school age.