Long-term effects of early-life otitis media on language development.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to examine the long-term consequences of early-life otitis media (OM) and the associated hearing loss (HL) on language skills of school-aged children.


METHODS
In a prospective study, the middle-ear status of 65 Dutch healthy-born children was documented every 3 months during their first 2 years of life; language comprehension and production were evaluated at 27 months and again at 7 years.


RESULTS
The positive relation that was found between OM-related HL and language development at 27 months could no longer be discerned at school age. Accordingly, parent-reported HL between 2 and 7 years had no effect on scores at school age.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study shows that negative consequences of early-life OM or the underlying HL on language comprehension and production appear to be resolved by the age of 7. It also shows that parent-reported HL between 2 and 7 years is not related to language skills at school age.
Zumach
Anne
A
Maastricht University Medical Center, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Maastricht, the Netherlands. anne.zumach@mumc.nl
Gerrits
Ellen
E
Chenault
Michelene
M
Anteunis
Lucien
L
D000158:Acoustic Impedance Tests; D002648:Child; D032882:Comprehension; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006320:Hearing Tests; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007804:Language Development; D007807:Language Tests; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D038781:Otoscopy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors