Aboriginal Hearing Program: NT Department of Education

Abstract

Otitis Media or middle ear infection is more common in Australian Aboriginal children than in any other population. The associated hearing loss causes added learning difficulties for these children particularly when learning a second language.

We are all aware of the results of numerous prevalence surveys taken over the past 25 years which suggest that 25 - 50% of all Aboriginal children in school classrooms are likely to be suffering a significant hearing loss at any one time (Neinhuys, 1988; Quinn 1983; Stuart et al., 1972, 1973; Willis, 1985). The incidence of infection varies from place to place and seasonally as well. In some school populations as many as 54% of children have been shown to have significant hearing loss (Quinn, 1985). There is a widely held view that a fluctuating conductive hearing loss over a long period of time can prove to have serious implications on the child’s developing behaviour, language competence and educational performance.