Otitis media and reading achievement: a review. 1995

J Lous
Institute of General Practice, Hoegh-Guldbergs Gade 8, Aarhus, Denmark.

Nineteen studies on the relationship between otitis media (OM) or otitis media with effusion (OME) (secretory otitis media (SOM)) and reading achievement were reviewed. The result is that the children catch up in cognitive development when their ears and hearing become normal at about school age. The correlations that have been found between SOM and reading achievement are so small that they have no practical importance for the average child. At the present time we have no knowledge that justifies intervention against SOM as a general preventive task to ensure the cognitive development, or reading achievement. The absent or very small correlation between SOM and reading in the reviewed studies, 'explaining' only 2-4% of the variance, has no implications in comparison with other important factors. Reading achievement was more closely correlated with cognitive, language, and linguistic factors, and to a series of socioenvironmental and classroom related factors. The high frequency of SOM, with resulting hearing loss, and the long duration and high rate of occurrence of OM in 'otitis-prone' children, and clinical observations underlines the need for further research.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007223 Infant A child between 1 and 23 months of age. Infants
D007231 Infant, Newborn An infant during the first 28 days after birth. Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D007806 Language Disorders Conditions characterized by deficiencies of comprehension or expression of written and spoken forms of language. These include acquired and developmental disorders. Acquired Language Disorders,Language Disorders, Acquired,Acquired Language Disorder,Language Disorder,Language Disorder, Acquired
D007859 Learning Disabilities Conditions characterized by a significant discrepancy between an individual's perceived level of intellect and their ability to acquire new language and other cognitive skills. These may result from organic or psychological conditions. Relatively common subtypes include DYSLEXIA, DYSCALCULIA, and DYSGRAPHIA. Adolescent Learning Disabilities,Adult Learning Disabilities,Child Learning Disabilities,Developmental Academic Disability,Developmental Academic Disorder,Developmental Disabilities of Scholastic Skills,Learning Disabilities, Adolescent,Learning Disabilities, Child,Learning Disorders,Academic Disorder, Developmental,Adult Learning Disorders,Developmental Disorders of Scholastic Skills,Learning Disorders, Adult,Learning Disturbance,Scholastic Skills Development Disorders,Academic Disabilities, Developmental,Academic Disability, Developmental,Academic Disorders, Developmental,Adolescent Learning Disability,Adult Learning Disability,Adult Learning Disorder,Child Learning Disability,Developmental Academic Disabilities,Developmental Academic Disorders,Disabilities, Adolescent Learning,Disabilities, Adult Learning,Disabilities, Child Learning,Disabilities, Developmental Academic,Disabilities, Learning,Disability, Adolescent Learning,Disability, Adult Learning,Disability, Child Learning,Disability, Developmental Academic,Disability, Learning,Disorder, Learning,Disorders, Adult Learning,Disorders, Learning,Disturbance, Learning,Disturbances, Learning,Learning Disabilities, Adult,Learning Disability,Learning Disability, Adolescent,Learning Disability, Adult,Learning Disability, Child,Learning Disorder,Learning Disorder, Adult,Learning Disturbances
D010034 Otitis Media with Effusion Inflammation of the middle ear with a clear pale yellow-colored transudate. Middle Ear Effusion,Otitis Media, Secretory,Otitis Media, Serous,Ear Effusion, Middle,Ear Effusions, Middle,Effusion, Middle Ear,Effusions, Middle Ear,Middle Ear Effusions,Secretory Otitis Media,Serous Otitis Media
D011932 Reading Acquiring information from text.
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D002675 Child, Preschool A child between the ages of 2 and 5. Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D003072 Cognition Disorders Disorders characterized by disturbances in mental processes related to learning, thinking, reasoning, and judgment. Overinclusion,Disorder, Cognition,Disorders, Cognition
D004432 Ear, Middle The space and structures directly internal to the TYMPANIC MEMBRANE and external to the inner ear (LABYRINTH). Its major components include the AUDITORY OSSICLES and the EUSTACHIAN TUBE that connects the cavity of middle ear (tympanic cavity) to the upper part of the throat. Tympanic Cavity,Tympanum,Middle Ear,Cavities, Tympanic,Cavity, Tympanic,Ears, Middle,Middle Ears,Tympanic Cavities,Tympanums

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