Behaviour and cognitive outcomes from middle ear disease

摘要

OBJECTIVES—To resolve controversies overassociations between a history of middle ear disease and psychosocialor cognitive/educational outcomes
DESIGN—Multipurpose longitudinal birth cohortstudy. Original cohort comprised all UK births between 5 and 11 April1970; data were available for approximately 12 000 children at 5 yearsold and 9000 children at 10 years old.
METHODS—For 5 year old children, parent reporteddata were available on health, social, and behavioural factors,including data on two validated markers of middle ear disease.Cognitive tests were administered at 5 and 10 years of age, andbehavioural problems rated at 10 years by the child's teacher.
RESULTS—After adjustment for social background andmaternal malaise, the developmental sequelae of middle ear diseaseremained significant even at 10 years. The largest effects wereobserved in behaviour problems and language test data at age 5, buteffect sizes were modest overall.
IMPLICATIONS—These results provide anepidemiological basis for policies that aim to minimise the sequelae ofmiddle ear disease by awareness in parents and preschool teachers,early referral, and intervention for more serious or persistent cases.