Dr Traci Flynn1, Ms Kate Rutledge, Mr John Eakin, Ms Amy Mival, Ms Michele Clapin
1Hearing Australia, Sydney, Australia
Serious ear and hearing difficulties adversely affect one in three Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in Australia. The Hearing Assessment Program Early Ears (HAPEE) is a national program which aims to increase awareness of ear and hearing health, increase the capability of health workers to manage ear disease, and provides diagnostic hearing assessments for children aged 0 to 6 years old. Through the program, the First Nations Unit of Hearing Australia established partnerships with outreach sites in 240 towns, remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and metropolitan suburbs. Over 300 upskilling sessions were delivered to more than 350 primary health workers, early educators, and teachers. Despite COVID-19 restrictions, Community Engagement Officers collaborated with local services and held approximately 240 awareness activities reaching over 5,000 young children in the community over a 10-month period.
Between June 2019 and December 2021, HAPEE assessed approximately 16,500 young children across Australia with a focus on regional, rural and remote communities. One in two children presented with otitis media and one in four children presented with identifiable hearing loss. Ear health and hearing improved in over 50% of the children. Children living in regional and remote communities experienced a higher rate of otitis media while children living in urban communities had a higher rate of eustachian tube dysfunction. One in three children living in regional and remote communicates had a hearing loss compared with only one in three young children living in urban communities. HAPEE continues to work in partnership throughout Australia to address the communities’ needs and address the ear and hearing health disadvantage experienced by children living in regional and remote Australia.
Biography:
Dr Traci Flynn holds a PhD and is the Senior Speech Pathologist within the First Nations Unit at Hearing Australia. She works across the First Nations Unit with the Hearing Assessment Program Early Ears (HAPEE), Listen to Learn, and Outreach. Traci is also affiliated with the University of Newcastle as a Senior Lecturer in Speech Pathology. Her research focuses on children with mild hearing loss and their language development and quality of life.
traci.flynn@hearing.com.au