ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES TO SPEECH STIMULI IN CHILDREN WITH OTITIS MEDIA

Abstract

Background: Otitis media in childhood may result in changes in auditory information processing and speech perception. Once a failure in decoding information has been detected, an evaluation can be performed by auditory evoked potential as FFR. Material and Methods: 60 children and adolescents aged 8 to 14 years were included in the study. The subjects were assigned into two groups: a control group (CG) consisted of 30 typically developing children with normal hearing; and an experimental group (EG) of 30 children, also with normal hearing at the time of assessment, but who had a history of secretory otitis media in their first 6 years of life and who had undergone myringotomy with placement of bilateral ventilation tubes. Each group was sub-divided into two age subgroups: 8-10 and 11-14 years. All children completed audiological evaluation (audiometry, speech audiometry, and immitance audiometry) and electrophysiological assessment. Results: The subjects who participated in the study presented behavioral thresholds and click-ABR within normal limits (p > 0.05). No differences were observed in the FFR responses from different age groups (8-10 years and 11-14 years). Significant differences in FFR were observed in the latency values (p < 0.05) when compared to control group, although amplitude values did not show significant differences between groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Children suffering from secretory otitis media in their first 6 years of life and who have undergone myringotomy for bilateral ventilation tube placement exhibit changes in their electrophysiological responses to speech.