Ear and hearing health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 2025

Overview

In 2022–23, the proportion of First Nations people reporting a long-term ear or hearing problem was 13% (about 131,000 people) (Data Table 1.1b). The proportion has remained similar over time, ranging from around 12% (in 2004–05 and 2011–13) to 15% (in 2001) (Data table 1.1e). 

For First Nations children aged 0–14, the proportion reporting an ear or hearing problem decreased from 11.2% in 2001 to 4.9% in 2022–23 (Figure PREVALENCE 1).

The information presented here refers to reported long-term ear or hearing problems. The impact of under-reporting of hearing loss on these results has not been assessed. Unless the level of under-reporting of hearing loss has increased over time, the decrease in the prevalence of reported long-term ear or hearing problems among First Nations children represents an improvement.  

Figure PREVALENCE 1: Reported long-term ear or hearing problems among First Nations people, by age, 2001 to 2022–23

Age and sex

The proportion of First Nations people reporting ear or hearing problems increased with age. In 2022–23, reported problems were lowest among First Nations children aged 0–4 (2.1% or 2,300 children)) and highest among those aged 55 and over (33% or 44,900 people) (Data Table 1.1b, Figure PREVALENCE 2).

The higher proportion of older First Nations people reporting long-term ear or hearing problems reflects higher rates of hearing loss in that group, which are due to their exposure throughout life to factors that can affect hearing. These factors include middle ear infections in childhood, exposure to loud noise or injuries at any age, and the ageing process itself (WHO 2024).

The overall proportion of First Nations people reporting long-term ear or hearing problems was similar for males (14%) and females (13%) (Data Table 1.1f).

The proportion of older men reporting ear or hearing problems tended to be larger than the proportion of older women. Among those aged 55 years and over, around 35% (22,000) of First Nations men reported long-term ear or hearing problems compared with 31% (22,300) of First Nations women (Figure PREVALENCE 2).

Remoteness

Among First Nations children aged 0–14, reported long-term ear and hearing problems were most prevalent in Remote areas (10.7% or 1,900), and least prevalent in Inner regional areas (2.3% or 1,900). This trend reported by remoteness may reflect actual prevalence or an availability of services to recognise hearing problems. 

In contrast, among First Nations people aged 55 and over, reported long-term ear and hearing problems were most prevalent in Major cities (36%, or around 18,000) and least prevalent in Very remote areas (20.3%, or around 2,5000) (Figure PREVALENCE 3). In contrast, among First Nations people aged 55 and over, reported long-term ear and hearing problems were most prevalent in Major cities (36%, or 18,000) and least prevalent in Very remote areas (20.3%, or 2,500) (Figure PREVALENCE 3).

State and territory

Across states and territories, the proportion of reported long-term ear or hearing problems among First Nations children aged 0–14 in 2022–23 ranged from just under 3.1% (about 2,900 children) in Queensland to 6.9% (about 8,200 children) in New South Wales.

Among older First Nations people, across states and territories the proportion of First Nations people aged 55 and over reporting long-term ear or hearing problems ranged from around 22% (about 2,100 people) in the Northern Territory to around 48% (about 2,800 people) in Tasmania (Figure PREVALENCE 4).

Types of long-term ear or hearing problems

Hearing loss was the most common reported long-term ear or hearing problem overall, affecting 7.9% of the First Nations population (78,800 people) (Data Table 1.1a). Long-term hearing loss is more prevalent among older people.

In 2022–23, long-term hearing loss was reported by:

• 1.9% of First Nations children aged 0–14 (6,100 children)
• 7.1% of First Nations people aged 15–54 (37,900 people)
• 26% of First Nations people aged 55 and over (34,700 people).

Middle ear infection was reported as a long-term ear or hearing problem affecting 2.7% of First Nations children aged 0–14 (about 8,800 children) in 2022–23 (Figure PREVALENCE 5).