The relationship between chronic otitis media-induced hearing loss and the acquisition of social skills

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of hearing loss caused by chronic otitis media (COM) on acquiring social skills. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A case-control Study of 90 patients. including patients with COM, age range 15-30 years, was conducted in the otorhinolaryngology ward of Tabriz University Hospital. Social skills were assessed with a social skills questionnaire. RESULTS: Social skill scores were found to be lower in hearing-impaired COM patients compared with the control group (P < 0.001). Social skill disabilities in patients with bilateral COM were more severe than in patients with unilateral COM and the controls (P < 0.001). Correlation between social skills score and degree of hearing loss was significantly negative (P = 0.014. rho = -0.314). These data indicate an inverse relationship between hearing loss and social skills. CONCLUSION: Social skills and educational level of COM patients are affected because of hearing impairment. This study suggests that COM has effects on social development and education. (C) 2008 American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation. All rights reserved.