Reading skills and auditory processing ability in children with chronic otitis media in early childhood.

The effect of recurrent middle ear disease during the first 2 years of life on auditory perceptual skills and reading ability was examined in two groups of 6- and 7-year-old children who were pair-matched by age, gender, socioeconomic status, and receptive vocabulary. Group 1 consisted of children with documented chronic otitis media at an early age, and group 2 had no history of middle ear problems. Tests of auditory perceptual skills and reading ability were administered. Significant differences in performance on all tests of auditory processing ability and reading ability were noted.