Influence of chronic otitis media on phonological acquisition

In light of conflicting results from previous studies of the speech development of children with otitis media, the range & types of consonants produced by English-acquiring Caucasian children with a history of otitis media (N = 3 females & 3 males) are examined longitudinally at nine points between ages 1:0 & 4:0. Based on weekly assessments of hearing levels & middle-ear status, subjects were classified as high vs low otitis media (N = 4 & 2 respectively). The consonant inventory of each subject at each observation is presented with commentary; results indicate that risk for delays in speech development results from both depressed hearing during bouts of otitis media & chronicity of the disease. 1 Figure, 24 References. J. Hitchcock