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

This study aims to evaluate changes in temporal auditory processing skills in children who underwent bilateral ventilation tube (VT) after Effusion Otisis Media diagnosis and the effect of these changes on speech comprehension in noisy environments. The children were 3-10 years old. This is a case-control study. In total 60 individuals were included in the study; The control group had 30 of children ages 10-15, who had normal hearing thresholds and normal immitansmetric evaluation, and were not diagnosed with effusion otitis media. The test group were 30 children, ages 10-15 who had surgery and used bilateral ventilation tubes after their diagnosis of effusion otitis media during the ages of 3-10 and currently had normal hearing thresholds and normal immitansmetric values. Each group performed the Turkish Matrix Test (TMT), Random Gap Detection Test (RGDT), Frequency Pattern Test (FPT), and Duration Pattern Test (DPT) Auditory Evoked Cortical Potential (AECP). When the temporal processing tests (FP, DP, RGDT) were compared in the test group compared to the control group, a significant difference was obtained(p<0,05). As a result of TMT, significantly lower scores were obtained in the test group compared to the control group(p<0,05,p<0,01). In addition, the latency values in the auditory evoked cortical potentials test were longer in the test group compared to the control group, and these results were not statistically significant(p>0,05). As a result of the study, it was determined that the central auditory processing skills were affected in children with a history of VT. Temporal processing tests, Turkish matrix test and auditory evoked cortical potential tests can be recommended as reliable and easily applicable tests, together with traditional hearing test methods in children with a history of otitis media with effusion, in order to evaluate comprehension skills in classroom noise. Key Words : Otitis Media, Auditory Processing, Understanding speech in noisy environment, Speech perception, Temporal resolution, Temporal processing, Auditory Evoked Cortical Potential.