A Sticky Issue: Otitis Media and Indigenous Children
Duration: 52 minutes
Program ID: 1006 | Purchase Price: $105.00 (DVD)
Otitis media (middle ear infection) and subsequent hearing problems are a major health and development concern for many Indigenous children in Australia. In some remote Aboriginal communities, rates of tympanic membrane perforation exceed 60% and up to 50% of school children possibly require hearing aids. Studies have shown that in Aboriginal communities, the onset of otitis media frequently occurs within 3 months of birth and progresses to chronic suppurative otitis media in 60% of cases.
The condition frequently continues throughout early childhood, causing ongoing hearing impairment throughout vital schooling years; with some Indigenous children enduring chronic otitis media and its associated discomfort for the majority of their childhood. This cycle of chronic infection is compounded by overcrowding, poor living conditions, poor hygiene standards and limited access to appropriate healthcare services.
Chronic infection not only impairs hearing in the short term; it also affects essential early childhood development, in particular speech development. Permanent hearing loss may also develop as result of long term damage to conductive anatomy. Hearing loss can affect a child’s education and social relationships, job opportunities in adulthood and possibly be a contributing factor in socially unacceptable behaviours.
This program discusses the barriers to achieving better outcomes for children with otitis media, and proposes strategies to overcome them. It also discusses diagnosis, management, and treatment of the different stages/forms of otitis media. The particular focus is on Indigenous children, and the complications that arise in rural and remote areas.
Program Presenters
- Chair: Dr Norman Swan - Presenter of the Health Report on ABC Radio National
- Mr Joe Daby - Aboriginal Health Worker, Ear Health Specialist, Maternal Child and Youth Health, NT
- Dr Ray Jones - General Practitioner, Bulgarr Ngaru Aboriginal Medical Centre, Grafton NSW
- Dr David McIntosh - Ear Nose Throat Surgeon, ENT Specialists, QLD
- Dr Andrew White - Remote Area Paediatrician, Senior Lecturer, JCU School of Medicine, Staff Paediatrician, The Townsville Hospital, QLD
Learning Outcomes
- Recognise the burden of Otitis Media in the Indigenous Australian community
- Identify risk factors and the diagnostic criteria for the various forms of Otitis Media
- Initiate prevention strategies for Otitis Media
- Adopt culturally appropriate treatment and management strategies for Otitis Media
Broadcast Dates
This program was first broadcast on the Foundation's satellite network on Tuesday 25 May 2010.
Funding Bodies
Funding has been provided by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
Accreditation
This program is accredited for CPD/CPE by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, the Royal College of Nursing Australia and the Australian Physiotherapy Association.
