This study examines otitis media as a possible factor associated with increased risk for communicative handicap in a group of children with a possible vulnerability for language delay: "late-talkers." Speech and language outcomes at ages 3 and 4 were examined in 28 late talkers and 24 children with normal language development. Late talkers with a reported history of otitis media were not found to be at any additional risk for language disorder. The late talkers as a whole did have a substantial risk of continued expressive language delay, as their mean length of utterance, articulation, and expressive language skills were significantly lower than those of the control group. The normally developing speakers showed no differences for articulation or expressive language skills due to otitis media, but normally speaking children with otitis media histories did score lower on receptive language, a difference which was also associated with lower socioeconomic status. (14 references) (JDD)