DATA ROOM
Hearing
Hospitalisation1
3.0
There is no difference in hearing loss at birth1 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples were 11.1 per cent more likely to be hospitalised with a principal diagnosis of diseases of the ear and mastoid than nonIndigenous Queenslanders
2.7
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Rate per 1000
NonIndigenous
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young peoples aged between 0 to 19 years were 30 per cent or 1.3 times more likely to be hospitalised for chronic (suppurative) otitis media as a principal diagnosis than nonIndigenous children and young people
30%
OR 1.3X
Between 2010–2013 an average of
0.2%
of both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander babies and nonIndigenous babies had a mild, moderate or greater permanent hearing loss in one or both ears—around 2 babies per 1000 on average
Middle ear disease and associated hearing loss throughout infancy and childhood2 On average Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people experience middle ear disease for over longer than non-Indigenous children and young people
10X
0
1
2
3
2.7 years
Hearing aids
3
3 months
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children* comprised of those fitted with hearing aids or cochlear implants
9.5%
80.8 22.4
%
%
Ear and hearing health problems
17.5 %
ONE OF TOP
Middle ear disease is one of the top 20 diseases contributing to the burden of disease of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (ranked 20 for males and 18 for females)
20
9/10
81
7% 3.6%
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who live in remote communities have some form of ear disease4
*In 2018, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children made up 5.9% (an estimated 278,000) of the total child population in Australia7
Burden of disease6
Cumulative total in years
Middle ear disease is ranked 81st in the non-Indigenous population
Nearly twice the rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged 0–14 years were reported as having ear and hearing problems compared to non-Indigenous children5
Urban Hearing Pathways Project In response, QAIHC and Hearing Australia are undertaking the Urban Hearing Pathways Project (the Hearing Project). The shortterm project aims to explore possible service enhancements to improve the ear and hearing health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged 0–5 years. Spanning three urban settings across three states, the Hearing Project will map Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ear and hearing health services of each jurisdiction. The three sites of the Hearing Project are Midland in
26
Sector Leader M AG A Z I N E
| November/December 2020
Western Australia, Newcastle in New South Wales and Ipswich in Queensland, involving Kambu Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Health. The purpose of service mapping is to identify the geographic spread and reach of ear and hearing health services for community, as well as any gaps, overlaps or duplication of services. Service mapping information will be evaluated for alignment with clinical guidelines for the management of otitis media (middle ear disease).
References see page 33
