The evaluation of auditory processing skills and late latencies in children with ventilation tube history

Objective

(s): This study aims to evaluate the changes in temporal auditory processing skills in children who underwent bilateral ventilation tube insertion (VTI) due to Otitis Media with Effusion (OME) and the effect of these changes on speech comprehension in noisy environments.

Methods

This is a case-control study. In total, 60 children were included in the study in two groups. The control group included 30 children aged 11 to 15, who had normal hearing thresholds and normal immitancemetric evaluation, and were not diagnosed with OME. The study group included 30 children, aged 11–15 who underwent bilateral VTI surgery after their diagnosis of OME during the ages of 3–10 and currently had normal hearing thresholds and normal immitancemetric values. Each group underwent the Turkish Matrix Test (TMT), Random Gap Detection Test (RGDT), Frequency Pattern Test (FPT), Duration Pattern Test (DPT), and Cortical Auditory Evoked Potential Test (CAEP).

Results

When the temporal processing tests (FPT, DPT, RGDT) were compared, a significant difference was obtained between the study group and the control group (p < 0.05). With the TMT, significantly lower scores were obtained in the study group compared to the control group (p < 0.01). In addition, the latency values in the cortical auditory evoked potential test were longer in the study group compared to the control group, but these results were not statistically significant (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

As a result of the study, it is concluded that the central auditory processing skills were affected in children with a history of bilateral VTI due to OME. Temporal processing tests, Turkish Matrix Test and Cortical Auditory Evoked Potential tests can be recommended as reliable and easily applicable tests, together with traditional hearing test methods in children with a history of OME, in order to evaluate comprehension skills in classroom noise.