Effect of Persistent Otitis Media on Language Development

Abstract

This paper suggests methods for systematically studying the short-term and long-term effects of persistent otitis media with effusion (OME) on language development and educational achievement. First, some suggestions are made about which aspects of language processing should be examined in detail during different periods of development given the nature of the hearing losses usually suffered by children with persistent OME. These aspects are phonological (speech-sound) categorization and rules and lexical (word) retrieval. Second, the factors which can interact with persistent OME to bring about long-term effects (developmental time, duration and degree of hearing loss, socioeconomic status and cognitive competence) are discussed and suggestions made for the design of studies which can examine the effects of interaction of these factors. Finally, a proposal is presented for cross-lag design, regional studies which can provide us with information needed in planning educational intervention.