Otolaryngology: Open Access
Open Access

Abstract

Introduction: Otitis media with effusion is accompanied with conductive hearing loss. The aim of the study is to find out the effect of long term or recurrent conductive hearing loss on speech discrimination. Method: Tonal audiometry tympanometry, speech audiometry (free sound field, head phone for left and right ear respectively) were performed on 18 girls (mean age 8y) and 27 boys (mean age 7 year). All the children underwent speech /language screening tests. Results: Results of speech recognition showed no ear side effect in girls and right ear advantage in boys. Girls showed earlier in age central auditory processing disorder. Boys showed lower scores in words discrimination while hearing through the headphones in left ear. Poorer speech recognition in boys is accompanied with motorical immaturity, undeveloped articulation, poor vocabulary, lack of syntax in sentences, substitution of ?R?and ?L? and unable to focus on school tusk. Conclusion: Children with conductive hearing loss associated to otitis media with effusion are pronounced auditory processing disorder and speech/language discrimination disturbance. Associative thinking and solving of abstract problems are affected more in females than males.

Biography

Jasenka Broz Frajtag is a Professor of speech pathologist in University Clinical Hospital Centre, Zagreb, Department of Otorhinolaryngology Center for Audiology and Vestibulology in Croatia. Currently she is studying in Medical school Public Health. Work rehabilitation with children and adults who have hearing problems, wear hearing aid/s or cochlear implants and also having problems in speech and language. She has many publications and has delivered talks in international conferences.