Do you know what a eustachian tube is? What about the pinna?
These are medical names for parts of the ear and if you find the words confusing and complicated, imagine what it would be like for a child, especially if you're trying to teach them to look after their binnungs (ears)!
"I try to explain to them (the students) about the body as an understanding of country, as an understanding of sacred sites," says Marianne Wobke, a health promotions officer at the Independent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander School at Acacia Ridge, a southern suburb of Brisbane.
Marianne appeared as a guest on Let's Talk, a talkshow hosted by Tiga Bayles on 98.9FM, as part of a special outside broadcast for the National Indigenous Ear Health Campaign. The campaign seeks to inform parents, carers and people working with infants and young children about Otitis Media, or middle ear infection. Read more about Otitis Media here.
Marianne says she sees the impact of Otitis Media in the classroom all the time.
"Often you'll see it manifest as restless behaviour even sometimes bad or aggressive behaviour, " she told 98.9FM.
To prevent Otits Media, the school, working with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Service, introduced tissues to encourage children to blow their nose.
Marianne also recommends not sticking objects in the ear like a cotton bud and to not expose children to cigarette smoke. For more tips click here.
Listen here to Marianne explain the anatomy of the ear as an understanding of country.
 
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