title: Evaluation of self-report by adults of childhood otitis media histories.
abstract: Several studies have suggested that reported auditory disabilities in adults are associated with reported histories of otitis media (OM) in childhood. However, no evaluation has previously been made of the accuracy of recall of childhood OM by adult subjects. In an investigation in university students, questionnaire responses on childhood OM histories were evaluated for 31 subjects reporting no known OM histories. Responses were compared with information obtained from GP (Family Doctor) records and parents. Agreement was very good for questions on ENT surgery, reasonably good for attendances at ENT clinics and poorer for GP attendances. It was concluded that the questionnaire approach was sufficiently valid in obtaining information from adults about childhood OM histories.
authors.affiliation: MRC Institute of Hearing Research, Nottingham, UK.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stephenson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012647:Self-Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires