The Effect of Otitis Media With Effusion on Infants ’ Detection of Sound

The purpose of this study was to obtain a preliminary estimate of how otitis media with effusion affects the hearing sensitivity of infants. An observer-based method was used to estimate detection thresholds for IOOO- or 4000-Hz tones for infants diagnosed with otitis media by a physician and for control infants. These preliminary results suggest that otitis media with effusion produces a mild to moderate hearing impairment in infants and that it may affect the developmental course of auditory sensitivity in the first year of life. hearing auditory sensitivity otitis media auditory development Otitis media with effusion refers to the condition in which infection or dysfunction of the middle ear leads to fluid accumulation in the middle ear cavity. It has been estimated that 75-85 % of all infants have at least one episode of otitis media during the first 2 years of life (e.g., Gravel, McCarton, & Ruben, 1988); as many as 25 % of infants develop recurrent or persistent otiti