Otitis media: Is precursor of delayed reading in Arabic speaking children?

Objective: To investigate the relation between otitis media in the language acquisition years and the occurrence of delayed reading between the ages of 7 and 10. Method: Participants were 40 children, half of whom had a history of otitis media between the ages of birth and three years and half who were free of the disease. These children, now ages 7-10, were tested with the Stanford Beint and Arabic Dyslexia Assessment Test. Results: Children with a history of otitis media scored over a year below grade level in reading and significantly below controls on Arabic Dyslexia Assessment tests as well as on the Verbal IQ factor on the Stanford Binet Conclusions: Children with early onset otitis media (birth to three years) tend to be at greater risk for delayed reading than age-matched controls. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.