INVESTIGATION OF AUDITORY PROCESSING PERFORMANCE AND RISKS AFFECTING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN CHILDREN WITH OTITIS MEDIA
1Gazi Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi, Odyoloji, Ankara, Türkiye2Ankara Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Odyoloji ve Konuşma Bozuklukları Doktora Programı, Ankara, Türkiye
3Gazi Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Kulak Burun Boğaz Anabilim Dalı, Ankara, Türkiye Objective: Otitis media can lead to various peripheral auditory effects, including conductive hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss, and temporary threshold shifts. While the impact of otitis media on peripheral auditory function is well-established, its effects on central auditory processing. The main purpose of this study was to examine the possible effects on auditory processing skills and academic performance at the central level due to the negativity in the transmission of auditory stimuli in children with a history of chronic otitis media with effusion.
Materials and Methods: The study included 20 children with chronic otitis media with effusion and 20 controls aged 5-12 years. The participants were administered the ''Auditory Figure Ground'' test, the ''Dichotic Monosyllabic Word'' test and the ''Akademik Başarıyı Etkileyen Riskleri Tarama Ölçeği''.
Results: Auditory Figure Ground and Dichotic Monosyllabic Word test scores of children with otitis media were statistically significantly lower than controls (p<0.05). When the subcategories of risks affecting academic success were examined, the risk scores of children with otitis media were statistically significantly higher than controls (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Chronic otitis media with effusion affected children's auditory processing skills and academic success. These results emphasize the importance of early diagnosis and early intervention in otitis media.
Keywords : Academic achievement, auditory processing, otitis media