The Impact of Otitis Media With Effusion on Infant Phonetic Perception

Bibliographic Data

ID16782832
AuthorsLinda Polka (0000-0003-4761-9057, McGill University, corresponding author), Susan Rvachew (0000-0001-9417-1932, McGill University)
Year2005
Volume8
Issue2
Pages101-117
Publication date2005-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInfancy (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1525-0008 • E-ISSN: 1532-7078
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1207/s15327078in0802_1
OpenAlexW2072589499
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited29

The effect of prior otitis media with effusion (OME) or current middle ear effusion (MEE) on phonetic perception was examined by testing infants' discrimination of boo and goo syllables in 2 test sessions. Middle ear function was assessed following each perception test using tympanometry. Perceptual performance was compared across 3 infant groups: (a) history-negative, infants with normal middle ear function who had never received medical treatment for OME; (b) history-positive, infants with normal middle ear function who received medical treatment for prior episodes of OME; and (c) MEE, infants presenting tympanograms indicating middle ear effusion on the day of testing. History-negative infants performed significantly better than MEE infants in both test sessions. History-negative infants also performed significantly better than history-positive infants in the 2nd test session. Findings suggest that OME has a negative impact on infant phonetic discrimination that may persist even after middle ear function has returned to normal

Audiology · Audiometry · Developmental psychology · Effusion · Hearing loss · Middle ear · Otitis · Perception · Tympanometry · Infant Health and Development · Language Development and Disorders · Medicine · Phonetics and Phonology Research · Psychology · Pediatrics · Surgery