EFFECT OF OTITIS-MEDIA ON THE VESTIBULAR SYSTEM IN CHILDREN

Forty-one children with otitis media (OM) were evaluated by moving pla tform posturography (Equitest, NeuroCom) before and after insertion of tympanostomy tubes, and were compared to children with no ear disease (N = 50). Velocity of sway increased with increasing difficulty of te st conditions (I-VI) for both groups of children (p < .001), and child ren less than 7 years of age had a higher velocity than children 7 yea rs old or older (p < .001). Children with OM had a higher velocity tha n normal children (p < .05). For children tested less than 30 days aft er insertion of tympanostomy tubes, the velocity for condition VI was significantly lower than before insertion (p < .05). Also, that the 6 children who had fallen on all trials on condition V or VI were able t o stand on these trials after insertion of tympanostomy tubes indicate s an improvement. These findings indicate that episodes of OM may affe ct balance, leaving children more clumsy and accident-prone, and possi bly impairing motor development.