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Long-term Effects of Early Otitis Media on Language Development

Michelene Chenault
Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Centre
School of Mental Health and Neuroscience, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University Medical Centre
Department of Methodology and Statistics, Maastricht University Medical Centre

Lucien Anteunis
Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Centre
School of Mental Health and Neuroscience, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University Medical Centre

Purpose: 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.

Method: In a prospective study, the middle ear status of 65 Dutch healthy-born children was documented every 3 months during their first two years of life; language comprehension and production were evaluated at 27 months and 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. Neither is parent-reported HL between 2 and 7 years related to language skills at school age.

KEY WORDS: Otitis Media, Hearing Loss, Long-Term Effects, Language Disorders, Growth & Development, Prospective Studies

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