Effects of Chronic Otitis Media with Effusion on Amblyaudia

Abstract

Background: Chronic otitis media with effusion (CME) primarily affectschildren. Temporary auditory deprivation is a serious complication of thisdisease and can result in auditory processing disorder, as demonstrated in paststudies. The objective of the current study was to investigate the effects of CMEduration on binaural processing and amblyaudia.Methods: Ninety-four children were examined, including 48 children (29girls=60%) with different CME durations (from 3 months to more than 9months) and 46 children (34 girls=73%) with no history of CME or a durationof less than 3 months CME. Persian versions of the dichotic digits and dichoticrhyme tests were applied.Results: Significant differences between the groups (P<0.001) in dichoticdigits difference (DDD) and dichotic rhyme difference (DRD) in free recallconditions were identified. With longer durations of CME, the DDD and DRDaverage scores were increased in the CME positive group, and the probability ofamblyaudia was also enhanced.Conclusion: A history of CME and the long-term auditory deprivation resultingfrom it in early childhood can increase the risk of amblyaudia.