Hearing deficits at school age; the predictive value of otitis media in infants.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the long-term predictive value of persistent/recurrent otitis media with effusion (OME) in infants in relation with hearing levels at (early) school age.


METHODS
A case-cohort study among a population-based sample of school-age children screened for hearing deficits.


METHODS
Schoolchildren (second grade, 5-6 years of age) in the city of Utrecht, the Netherlands, who failed the hearing screening test and a sample of children invited for this screening. History of otitis media (serosa and acute) was assessed using three sources of information: a self-completion questionnaire mailed to the parents; medical records of otolaryngology visits; data from the (Ewing) hearing screening test at 9 months of age.


RESULTS
Children who failed the primary Ewing test and children with recurrent and or persistent OME in the first 2 years of life showed an increased risk of failing school audiometry compared to children without such an OME history (OR=1.6 and 2.3, respectively). In a logistic model, the results of the primary Ewing test and the frequency of acute otitis media, proved to be moderately predictive for the screening test result at school age.


CONCLUSIONS
OME in infants is a prognostic factor for hearing performance in the early school years.
Zielhuis
G A
GA
Department of Epidemiology, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Gerritsen
A A
AA
Gorissen
W H
WH
Dekker
L J
LJ
Rovers
M M
MM
van der Wilt
G J
GJ
Ingels
K
K
D001299:Audiometry; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012572:School Health Services