Listen `Ear

Good hearing is very important to your child’s ability to  talk, learn and listen.

Sometimes a child’s hearing can be affected when an infection gets into their ear and is left untreated. 

One of the most common forms of ear infections is otitis media or middle ear infection.

Unfortunately this health issue recieves little attention, until now.

In July 2011, the Australian Government launched a National Indigenous Hearing Health campaign which aims to reduce the incidence of otitis media amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people by increasing awareness, highlighting risk factors and promoting the importance of seeking and following-up treatment to prevent loss of hearing.

Our Listen `Ear project is developing radio messages and programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners in south-east Queensland as part of the campaign.

Tune into 98.9FM for regular information and tips about otitis media, the risk factors and prevention.

Harry is a one-year old Aboriginal infant with devoted parents, Sam and Helen.

One day the little fella developed a snotty nose and conjunctivitis prompting a visit to the doctor.  What happened next took both parents by surprise.

“Your son has otitis media,” the doctor said after examining Harry’s ears.

“I don’t know much about otitis media,” said Helen with a look of shock on her face.

Sam however nodded.

“I’ve been doing research on this for work,” Sam says.

Sam works at Brisbane Indigenous Media Association which is working in partnership with the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing to increase community awareness of otitis media.

“It’s a medical term for any form of inflammation or infection of the middle ear," he explains.

“Some of you mob might know it as middle ear infection or runny or glue ear.”

Nonetheless, Sam says he was still surprised because there had been no other signs except Harry grabbing his ears.

"I'm glad we took him to the doctor too because I learned  that untreated infections can cause hearing loss and learning difficulties later down the track,"  Sam said.

Their doctor prescribed medicine to treat the infection and gave firm instructions to Sam and Helen to use it all up even if Harry felt better. They made arrangements for a follow up consultation to check whether Harry’s infection had cleared up.

To read more about the signs of otitis media visit the Australian Government’s Care for Kids Ears website here.

This project is funded under the National Indigenous Ear Health Campaign, an initiative of the Australian Government.