This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Peters, S. A. F. Articles by Schilder, A. G. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Peters, S. A. F. Articles by Schilder, A. G. M. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

The Effects of Early Bilateral Otitis Media with Effusion on Educational Attainment

A Prospective Cohort Study

Sylvia A. F. Peters and Eefje H. Grievink are currently graduate students in special education at the University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Eefje H. Grievink

Eefje H. Grievink are currently graduate students in special education at the University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Wim H.J. van Bon

Wim H. J. van Bon, PhD, is an associate professor of special education at the University of Nijmegen. His research focuses on language factors in reading and spelling problems, Address: W. H. J. van Bon, Department of Special Education, University of Nijmegen, Postbus 9103, 6500 HD Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Anne G. M. Schilder

Anne G. M. Schilder is a resident in otorhinolaryngology at the University Hospital Nijmegen Sint Radboud, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

The relationship between long-lasting, bilateral otitis media with effusion (OME) between the ages of 2 and 4 and educational attainment, in particular, reading and spelling ability at 7 years of age, was studied in a prospective cohort study of 946 children. After selection, three groups were distinguished: 151 children with long-lasting, bilateral OME at preschool age, 37 preschool children treated with ventilation tubes, and 82 children with no history of OME at that age. Early bilateral OME was found to affect spelling ability, but not reading ability, at 7 years. The effects of OME did not appear to increase with the number of observations of OME. Also, recurrent hearing loss did not have more detrimental effects than continuous hearing loss. Effects of treatment with ventilation tubes were not found. Only the teachers' ratings of writing ability indicated a slight advantage of treatment with ventilation tubes. In conclusion, the educational consequences of early OME appear to be very small.

Journal of Learning Disabilities, Vol. 27, No. 2, 111-122 (1994)
DOI: 10.1177/002221949402700206


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?