ABSTRACT
Objective: To evaluate the effect of recurrent otitis media on auditory perception and speech
Methods: Two groups of children, aged between 9-11 years, who had otitis media in the first 3 years, one group consisted of 20 children who had a history of otitis media for at least 4 times or more, and the second group consisted of 20 children who had otitis media only once. Auditory perception was assessed by an Audiologist who carried out Audiometric measurement and Tympanometry on each ear of the participant using audiometer type Madsen and tympanometry type Kemplex, speech abilities, reading and writing abilities were assessed by a speech pathologist using a battery of a speech test
Results: Eighty percent of children who had otitis media for at least 4 times or more showed auditory perception disorder, and this has affected their speech development
Conclusion: It can be concluded that frequent otitis media episodes associated with hearing loss adversly affects the child's auditory processing and articulation development