title: Otitis Media and Related Complications Among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
abstract: Acute otitis media (AOM) symptoms can be masked by communication deficits, common to children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). We sought to evaluate the association between ASD and otitis media. Using ICD-9-CM diagnostic codes, we performed a retrospective case-cohort study comparing AOM, and otitis-related diagnoses among children with and without ASD. Children with ASD had a significantly increased rate of AOM, otitis media with effusion, otorrhea, and PE tube placement. Children with ASD were more than twice as likely to develop mastoiditis, and to undergo mastoidectomy and tympanoplasty. Children with ASD are more likely to have middle ear infections and otitis-related complications, highlighting the importance of routine middle ear examinations and close attention to hearing impairment in this population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Uniformed Services University, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA. daniel.adams@usuhs.edu.
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Uniformed Services University, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA.
authors.forename: Apryl
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Susi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Christine R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Erdie-Lalena
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Uniformed Services University, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA.
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gorman
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Uniformed Services University, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hisle-Gorman
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Uniformed Services University, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rajnik
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Marilisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elrod
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Uniformed Services University, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA.
authors.forename: Cade M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Nylund
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008417:Mastoiditis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Autism spectrum disorders; Child development disorders, pervasive; Mastoiditis; Otitis media