Ambulatory Pediatrics
Volume 6, Issue 5 , Pages 280-287, 1 September 2006

Early Middle Ear Effusion and School Achievement at Age Seven Years

  • David P. McCormick, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress correspondence to David P. McCormick, MD, Professor of Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Division of General Academic Pediatrics, Suite 2.701, 400 Harborside Dr, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston TX 77555-1119
    • ,
  • Dale L. Johnson, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX
    • ,
  • Constance D. Baldwin, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, NY

Received 30 January 2006; accepted 28 April 2006.

Objective

This study tested the hypothesis that children with early persistent middle ear effusion (MEE) are at risk for later deficits in academic performance.

Methods

We recruited 698 newborns and monitored them for MEE every 2 to 4 weeks at home until age 3 years. At age 7 years, it was possible to obtain school data for 226 children. Tests included the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills or the Stanford Achievement tests, the Woodcock Reading Mastery Tests, and the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement.

Results

There was no significant relationship between early MEE and measures of school achievement as shown by correlations or multiple regression. Differences between extreme MEE groups were not significant. School achievement was strongly associated with ethnicity, home environment, and socioeconomic status.

Conclusions

Early persistent MEE does not appear to affect achievement in school at age 7 years.

Key words:  child , development , middle ear effusion , otitis media , school achievement

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PII: S1530-1567(06)00128-6

doi:10.1016/j.ambp.2006.04.010

Ambulatory Pediatrics
Volume 6, Issue 5 , Pages 280-287, 1 September 2006

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