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Awareness weeks guide

Health Awareness Week

 

Hearing awareness week

1-7 March 2023

World Hearing Day, on 3rd of March, part of Hearing awareness week is the largest global awareness campaign on ear and hearing care that calls for action to address hearing loss.
World Hearing Day aims to:

  • Promote public health actions for ear and hearing care
  • Stimulate intersectoral partnership for ear and hearing care
  • Raise awareness on hearing loss and care at national and community levels across the world
  • Encourage behaviour change towards healthy EHC practices.

Deafness Forum Australia

UpToDate

Pediatrics

Adults

Articles

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pediatrics

Pediatrics

Adults

Journals

E-books

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Articles

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pediatrics

High prevalence of hearing loss in urban Aboriginal infants: the Djaalinj Waakinj cohort study
These finding that 69% of urban Aboriginal infants in our study had hearing loss at about twelve months of age is comparable with that of a similar study in Kalgoorlie (65%). Hearing assessments in infants are based on minimum response levels rather than hearing thresholds, which probably explains the apparent mild hearing loss in infants with normal tympanograms. The mean hearing response in these children was nevertheless about 10 dB better than in infants with abnormal tympanograms. The mean hearing response in infants with abnormal tympanograms was 40.7 dB, a level at which they would not hear normal voices clearly, with implications for later speech, language, and behavioural development.8 Our findings support early monitoring of otitis media and hearing loss in Indigenous children, with prompt referral for audiological assessment as recommended by Australian otitis media guidelines. MJA 30 May 2022

Mixed-methods evaluation of screening for hearing loss using the hearScreenTM mobile health application in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children presenting to an urban primary healthcare service
Recommendations for hearing screening for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged 4 years have a limited evidence base. Using the hearScreenTM (HearX, Camden, DE, USA) mobile health application as part of a mixedmethods study, the aim of this study was to assess the proportion of 4-year-old Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children with hearing difficulties, as well as the feasibility and acceptability of the test itself. Of the 145 4-year-old Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were regular patients of the service during the recruitment period, 50 were recruited to the present study. Of these 50 children, 42 (84%) passed the hearing screening test, 4 (8%) did not and 4 (8%) were unable to complete the test. Nine caregivers were interviewed. Themes included the priority given to children’s health by caregivers, positivity and trust in the test, preference for having the test conducted in primary care and the importance of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person providing the screening test. These findings lend support to hearing screening for school-age children in primary care provided by an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healthcare worker using the hearScreenTM test. Australian journal of primary health 11 October 2021

Hearing loss increases with size but not site of tympanic membrane perforation in Aboriginal Australian children in remote locations
In ATSI children from remote communities, HL is greater in ears with larger perforations and active middle ear disease but there was no relationship between perforation site and HL. Laryngoscope investigative otolaryngology 21 October 2022

The socioemotional challenges and consequences for caregivers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children with otitis media: A qualitative study
OM may have substantial social and emotional consequences for children and their caregivers. A holistic understanding of the way in which OM impacts multiple facets of health and well-being, as well as recognition of challenges in accessing proper care and treatment, will aid families managing OM and its sequelae. Health expectations 16 March 2022

Early onset of otitis media is a strong predictor of subsequent disease in urban Aboriginal infants: Djaalinj Waakinj cohort study
Approximately half of Aboriginal infants enrolled into the South Metropolitan Perth project have OM by the age of 6 months and early onset of disease strongly predicts subsequent OM. Early surveillance for OM in urban areas is needed for early detection and management to reduce the risk of long-term hearing loss which can have serious developmental, social, behavioural, educational and economic consequences. Journal of paediatrics and child health 20 February 2023

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Pediatrics

Association of genetic diagnoses of childhood-onset hearing loss with Cochlear implant outcomes
The study results suggest that genetic testing is a valuable prognostic tool for managing pediatric hearing loss and a predictor for cochlear implant outcomes. JAMA 12 January 2023

Developmental vulnerability of Australian school-entry children with hearing loss
National data from the Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) was used to describe the sociodemographic and developmental characteristics of a cohort of Australian children entering their first year of primary school in 2012. Results, together with sociodemographic variables were reported for two groups: children with and without reported hearing loss. Data on 285 232 children were analysed, with just over 1% of these children identified with hearing loss. Logistic regression analysis found that children with reported hearing loss had over double the odds than their hearing peers of being developmentally ‘vulnerable’ on one or more domains of the AEDC. Covariates of interest included Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage, as well as high rates of school absenteeism. Retrospective longitudinal research linking developmental outcomes with intervention efforts, such as newborn hearing screening, would be beneficial in future research. Australian journal of primary health 20 January 2020

Cochlear implantation in a patient with congenital microtia, cochlear hypoplasia, venous anomalies of the temporal bone and laryngomalacia: Challenges and surgical considerations
This study reports the case of a 28-month-old girl with congenital profound hearing loss, laryngomalacia, and malformed inner ear, who received cochlear implantation surgery. The bony structure, vessels and nerves were first assessed through magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography before exploring the genetic basis of the condition using trio-based whole exome sequencing. Perioperative evaluation and management of the airway was then performed by experienced anesthesiologist, with the surgical challenges as well as problems encountered fully evaluated. Medicine 17 February 2023

Listening effort in school-aged children with limited useable hearing unilaterally: Examining the effects of a personal, digital remote microphone system and a contralateral routing of signal system
Employing behavioral and subjective indices of listening effort, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of two intervention options, remote microphone system (RMS) and contralateral routing of signal (CROS) system, in school-aged children with limited hearing unilaterally. Behavioral and subjective indices of listening effort indicated that an RMS provided the most consistent benefit for speech recognition and listening effort for children with limited unilateral hearing. RMSs could therefore be a beneficial technology option in classrooms for children with limited hearing unilaterally. Trends in hearing 18 February 2021

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Adults

Evaluating the effectiveness of bone conduction hearing implants in rehabilitation of hearing loss
Bone conduction hearing devices are effective solution for rehabilitation of hearing loss. Bilateral fitting yields satisfactory outcomes in suitable candidates. Transcutaneous devices carry significantly lower skin complication rates compared to percutaneous devices. European archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology 23 February 2023

Hearing aid adoption is associated with the type of significant other in attendance at hearing care appointments
There is increasing evidence to suggest that the implementation of family-centered care practices in clinical audiology yields positive patient outcomes. Trends in hearing 22 November 2022

How to communicate with patients who are D/deaf or have hearing loss
What you need to know

  • Asking, “How can I help you hear and communicate?” ensures that patients are fully involved in decisions about their care
  • A Deaf person who uses British Sign Language (BSL) has a legal right to services in their own language. Support D/deaf people in using their preferred method of communication in line with relevant legislation such as the Equality Act (2010). This applies to face-to-face and remote consultations
  • Registered, qualified interpreters should be booked in advance of appointment. Video interpreting services are also available

BMJ 9 June 2021

Association of polygenic risk scores for hearing difficulty in older adults with hearing loss in mid-childhood and midlife : A population-based cross-sectional study within the longitudinal study of Australian children
This population-based cross-sectional study of PRSs for self-reported hearing difficulty among adults found an association with hearing ability in mid-childhood. This adds to the evidence that age-related hearing loss begins as early as the first decade of life and that polygenic inheritance may play a role together with other environmental risk factors. JAMA 26 January 2023

Association of carotid atherosclerosis with hearing loss: A cross-sectional analysis of the atherosclerosis risk in communities study
The findings of this cross-sectional study with temporal analyses of a cohort with the ongoing ARIC study found that subclinical atherosclerosis in midlife was associated with worse hearing in older adulthood. Prevention and control of carotid atherosclerosis during middle age may positively affect the hearing health of older adults. JAMA 19 January 2023

Association of hearing aids and Cochlear implants with cognitive decline and dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
In this meta-analysis, the usage of hearing aids and cochlear implants is associated with a decreased risk of subsequent cognitive decline; physicians should strongly encourage their patients with hearing loss to adopt such devices. JAMA 5 December 2022

Primary ossiculoplasties provide better hearing results than revisions: a retrospective cohort study
Titanium prostheses are effective in OCR both in primary and revision cases. It is not the number of previous surgeries, but the fact of revision that influences postoperative hearing results. European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology 18 February 2023

Factors influencing hearing help-seeking and hearing aid uptake in adults: A systematic review of the past decade
This systematic review examined the audiological and nonaudiological factors that influence hearing help-seeking and hearing aid uptake in adults with hearing loss based on the literature published during the last decade. Trends in hearing 16 February 2023

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Journals

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E-books

This is just a sample of the e-books the library subscribes to – you will need your library login

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