Long-term effect of middle ear disease on temporal processing and P300 in two different populations of children

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: The effects of otitis media on the function of the central auditory nervous system in different populations is unknown. Understanding how the history of otitis media affects children from different nations will guide health professionals worldwide on the importance of adequate auditory stimulus in childhood. For this reason, the aim of the present study was to investigate the long-term auditory effects of middle ear disease on temporal processing and P300 in two different populations of children: Australian and Brazilian. METHODS: Temporal processing tests (Frequency Pattern Tests-FPT and Gaps in noise-GIN) and P300 were measured in 68 Brazilian and Australian children, aged between 8 to 14 years. The Brazilian otitis media group (BrOM) and Australian otitis media group (AusOM) consisted of 20 children each who had a documented history of otitis media. Control groups of 14 children (BrControl and AusControl) were also recruited from each country, all with no documented history of otitis media. RESULTS: The BrOM group showed significantly poorer performance (p<0.001) for FPT and the GIN compared to BrControl. The P300 response showed significantly longer mean latencies (p = 0.02) compared to BrControls. The AusOM group also showed significant delayed latency of P300 (p = 0.04) compared to the AusControl. The FPT showed significantly poorer performance (p = 0.04) compared to AusControls. The two otitis media groups showed no significant differences between each other on P300. Significant differences were seen however in temporal processing tests performance between the two cohorts for the otitis media groups. The BrOM group had significantly poorer responses (p<0.001) for FPT and GIN compared to the AusOM group. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support that although differences exist between BrOM and AusOM groups, otitis media can be demonstrated to affect the underlying mechanisms of the P300 measures and behavioral auditory responses in two different populations of children

Audiological and behavior findings in children underwent a bilateral myringoplasty -a comparative study Achados audiológicos e comportamentais em crianças submetidas à miringoplastia bilateral -um estudo comparativo 882 |

ABSTRACT Purpose: to analyze pre-surgical hearing evaluation in children who suffering from secretory otitis media in their first five years of age. Also to verify the length of time tubes have remained in the eardrum and analyze the test results of auditory processing after myringotomy surgery. Methods: 79 students between eight and 12 years old were divided into two groups: 1 -40 students without otitis media history and 2 -39 students suffering from secretory otitis media in their first five years of age and who have undergone a myringotomy surgery. The individuals underwent complete audiological evaluation and assessment of Auditory Processing. Results: all patients showed conductive hearing loss in the pre-operative audiologic tests. The mean time of ventilation tubes was 11,8 months. The left ear showed significant lower performance in the dichotic digits and pitch pattern sequence tests. The students from group 2 showed lower performance whether compared to group 1 in the dichotic digits test and gaps-in-noise. Conclusion: children with a history of otitis media in the early years of life showed the conductive hearing loss responses in the pre-surgical evaluation and lower responses in dichotic test of digits and gaps-in-noise