Prevalence
Figure PREVALENCE: Key statistics
A series of visualisations for key statistics across prevalence chapter. Hover over visualisation for more detailed description.
Prevalence refers to the proportion of people in a population who have a health condition at a point in time. Measures of prevalence can be used to identify population groups or regions where a health condition occurs more commonly. Information about prevalence can provide insights into population groups or areas with a greater need for preventive health measures or health services.
This chapter contains the following information about the prevalence of ear or hearing conditions among the First Nations population:
- reported long-term ear disease or hearing problems from ABS survey data (data tables 1.1a–1.1f)
- measured hearing loss from the Australian Eye and Ear Health Survey (AEEHS)
- ear conditions or hearing loss among Deadly Ears program participants (data tables 1.2a–1.2b)
Data tables in Excel spreadsheet format can be accessed at the Data tab.
About the data
Information in this section comes from the national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health surveys conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and the newly released results from the Australian Eye and Ear Health Survey (AEEHS) a joint project led by the Westmead Institute for Medical Research, University of Sydney. Data are not comparable across two sources due to differences in sampling and estimation methodology, population age cohorts and the ear and hearing health examination protocols and categorisations of hearing impairment.
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health surveys (ABS)
These surveys cover First Nations people of all ages in remote and non-remote areas of Australia. Parents or guardians are asked to answer for children aged 0–14 and may answer for children aged 15–17. Results are reported as estimates weighted to the Australian standard population.
Reported long-term ear or hearing problem information has been collected since 2001. Respondents are asked if they have a hearing problem or problem with their ears that has lasted, or is expected to last, for 6 months or more. Reported hearing loss includes total deafness, being deaf in one ear, or having hearing loss or partial deafness.
Measured hearing loss information through a hearing test was collected in the 2018–19 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey (NATSIHS) and are reported in the previous 2024 report. The 2022–23 NATSIHS did not include a hearing test.
A comparison of measured and reported hearing loss in the NATSIHS has shown that under-reporting of hearing loss by individuals is likely to be substantial. People may not be aware that they have hearing loss or may choose not to report it (ABS 2020). Additionally, for the AEEHS results suggests that reported may not be a reliable indicator, and that screening with objective hearing testing is needed to identify hearing impairment.
Australian Eye and Ear Health Survey (AEEHS) results
The AEEHS was conducted between August 2022 and March 2025 with results published on 9 October 2025 (Kah et.al 2025). A selection of newly available results are presented in this 2025 report. Population estimates have not been calculated so AEEHS results are only representative of the sample selected. Data adjusted for age are available for comparisons between Indigenous and non-Indigenous participant responses.
The AEEHS was limited to those aged 50 and over, with a hearing component sample of 461 (12.9%) Indigenous participants and 3,112 (87.1%) non-Indigenous participants.
Hearing examinations and interviews included questions around hearing, including both reported or measured hearing loss laterally and duration, the frequency of past hearing examinations, ever use of hearing aids, and other questions on impacts from hearing impairment. Pure-tone audiometry, tympanometry and video-otoscopy were also utilised.
Data from the AEEHS presented in this report include measured hearing loss only.