OTITIS-MEDIA AND THE SOCIAL-BEHAVIOR OF DAY-CARE-ATTENDING CHILDREN

Research has suggested that young children who experience chronic midd le ear disease (otitis media) in early childhood may display some init ial developmental delays in language development as well as later prob lems in school. This association between otitis media and developmenta l problems is hypothesized to be linked to the hearing loss that accom panies frequent or long bouts of otitis media. Recent interest has foc used on whether otitis media may be linked to behavioral changes in ch ildren, making them less responsive to the environment even when well. This study examined the relation between early otitis media in day-ca re-attending children and their subsequent behavior in the day-care cl assroom when the children were well. Findings suggest that day-care-at tending children with chronic otitis media in the first 3 years of lif e play more often alone and have fewer positive and fewer negative ver bal interactions with peers than nonchronic children in day-care. Ther e were no differences between chronic and nonchronic otitis media chil dren in their nonverbal behavior. Results may also contribute to our u nderstanding of the development of the socially withdrawn child.