Early recurrent otitis media, language and central auditory processing in children.
The study examines the relationships that exist between early recurrent otitis media, language and central auditory processing in children. A retrospective case-control experimental design was employed and ten subjects were allocated to each of the two research groups, namely children with a history of early recurrent otitis media (research group 1) and children without a history of early recurrent otitis media (research group 2). The children in both research groups were in grade one and turning 7 years old. The language and central auditory processing of the subjects were assessed using the Clinical Evaluation of Language Function (Wiig & Semel, 1980) and the Willeford Battery of Central Auditory Function (Willeford, 1974). The results showed that the language and central auditory processing of the children with a history of early recurrent otitis media were significantly poorer than that of their disease-free peers. The results stress the importance of vigorous identification and management programmes for children with a history of early recurrent otitis media.
Campbell
N
N
Department of Communication Pathology, University of Pretoria.
Hugo
R
R
Uys
I
I
Hanekom
J
J
Millard
S
S
D001299:Audiometry; D001307:Auditory Perception; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002663:Child Language; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000523:psychology*; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires