Summary
This is the first Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) annual report on the ear and hearing health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and adults, following the release of the foundational report in 2022.
First Nations people continue to experience excessive rates of ear and hearing problems which can have profound impacts on overall health and quality of life. Ear disease and hearing loss in children can have a big impact on their speech, language, thinking skills and social development. As children grow up, these issues can make it difficult for them to be part of community, culture, and work. Much ear disease and hearing loss affecting First Nations people, particularly children and younger adults, is preventable.
This report brings together information on the prevalence of ear and hearing problems among First Nations people and ear and hearing health programs, services and workforce. It includes insights into the complexity of the ear and hearing health system. The report presents information on accessibility and use of ear and hearing health care services by First Nations people, from screening to treatment to rehabilitation and includes information from on-the-ground First Nations specific primary health care service providers. The report identifies key data gaps and potential areas for data development.
Summary
Key findings
- Prevalence
- Screening and diagnosis
- Intervention and treatment
- Rehabilitation
- Workforce
- Change over time
- Data gaps and data development
Introduction
- Main ear and hearing conditions
- Impact of ear and hearing problems
- Factors influencing ear and hearing health
- Determinants of ear and hearing health
- Access to ear and hearing health services
- Navigating ear and hearing health services
- The ear and hearing health system
- Providers
- Services
- Settings
- Ear and hearing health policy context, services and programs
- Reporting on ear and hearing health measures
Prevalence
- Reported long-term ear or hearing problems
- Reported long-term ear or hearing problems
- Measured hearing loss
- Measured hearing loss in one or both ears
- Severity of measured hearing loss
- Measured and reported hearing loss
- Measured hearing loss among program participants
- Reported long-term ear or hearing problems
Screening and diagnosis
- Neonatal hearing screening
- Participation in neonatal hearing screening
- Diagnosis
- Annual ear health checks in primary care settings
- Health assessments for First Nations people
- Diagnostic audiology services
- Audiology services
- Ear health checks and diagnostic hearing assessments for children aged 0–6 (Hearing Assessment Program – Early Ears)
- Ear health checks and diagnostic assessments
- Diagnosed hearing impairment
- Neonatal hearing screening
Intervention and treatment
Emergency department presentations
Hospitalisations for diseases of the ear and mastoid process
Hospital procedures
Ear or hearing related procedures, all ages
Hospitalisations for middle ear related procedures among children aged 0–14
Waiting times
Waiting times for elective myringotomy surgery
Waiting times for elective myringoplasty surgery
Eye and Ear Surgical Support Program
Rehabilitation
- Hearing aids and cochlear implants
- Hearing Australia clients fitted with hearing devices
- Age of first fitting
- National Disability Insurance Scheme
- Hearing aids and cochlear implants
Workforce
- Audiologists
- Ear, nose and throat specialists
- EarTrain workforce training
- Healthy Ears – Better Hearing, Better Listening outreach services
Data gaps and development opportunities
Prevalence of ear disease and hearing loss
Primary care
Neonatal hearing screening
Ear and hearing health workforce
Outcome measures
Targeted longitudinal studies
Data linkage of health and outcome-related data sets
Patient journey
Access and experience
The hidden wait list
End matter: Acknowledgments; Abbreviations; Symbols; Glossary; List of tables; List of figures; References