Listen for learning

Did you know a child's learning ability and behaviour in the classroom can be affected by hearing loss?

Simon McCormack, an audiologist with Queensland Health's Deadly Ears program, says the main cause of hearing loss is Otitis Media.  

"Otitis Media is a fairly common disease in children generally but  the prevalence, recurrence and degree of infection recorded in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is significantly higher than in non-Indigenous people." National indigenous Ear Health Campaign

Otitis Media is the medical term for a middle ear infection and it can block sound from entering the auditory system.

"It’s a conductive loss, " says Simon.

"You’ll basically hear things very softly”.

He adds this combined with other background noises, can make listening increasingly difficult and may lead to behavioural changes.

"If a child can’t hear the teacher, what are they going to do?"

"They're not going to concentrate as well, or going to understand,

"As a result their learning’s going to be affected," he said  

Early prevention is the only way we can stop Otitis Media.   Simon recommends regular ear health checks.  

For more information visit the Australian Government’s Care for Kids Ears website here.

We want your feedback!  We're interested in finding out who is listening, reading and using the resources we're producing for the Listen `Ear project.  

Have a go at our survey for a chance to win a $50 voucher!  The first twenty to respond will also receive an ear health bag containing information about Otitis Media and special story book (pictured).

Listen to one of our Listen `Ear  messages first,  and then fill out the survey.

Listen `Ear is funded under the National Indigenous Ear Health campaign, an Australian Government initiative.