ERIC Number: EJ750378
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2006-Dec
Pages: 18
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0007-0998
EISSN: N/A
The Effects of an Early History of Otitis Media on Children's Language and Literacy Skill Development
Winskel, Heather
British Journal of Educational Psychology, v76 n4 p727-744 Dec 2006
Background: Otitis media (OM) or middle ear infection is a common childhood illness and is most frequent during the crucial first 3 years of life when speech and language categories are being established, which could potentially have a long-term effect on language and literacy skill development. Aims: The purpose of the current study was to ascertain the effects of a history of OM in early childhood on later language and literacy skill development. Sample: Forty-three children from Grade 1 and Grade 2, between 6 and 8 years old with an early history of OM and 43 control children, matched for chronological age, gender and socio-economic status, participated in this study. Methods: Children were tested on multiple measures of phonological awareness, semantic knowledge, narration and reading ability. The performance of children with and without a history of OM was compared on the different measures. Results: There was a general tendency for children with a history of OM to achieve lower scores on phonological awareness skills of alliteration, rhyme and non-word reading, semantic skills of expressive vocabulary and word definitions and reading than non- OM children. Conclusion: These findings highlight the potential problems an early history of middle ear infection can have on school-aged children's later language and literacy development.
Descriptors: Grade 1, Grade 2, Skill Development, Semantics, Human Body, Diseases, Age, Reading Skills, Literacy, Language Acquisition, Phonology, Measures (Individuals), Comparative Analysis, Scores, Vocabulary
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
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