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Objective: Describe the ear and hearing outcomes in Aboriginal infants in an Australian urban area., Design: Aboriginal infants enrolled in the Djaalinj Waakinj prospective cohort study had ear health screenings at ages 2-4, 6-8 and 12-18 months and audiological assessment at ∼12 months of age. Sociodemographic, environmental characteristics, otoscopy, otoacoustic emissions, tympanometry and visual reinforcement audiometry data were collected., Study Sample: 125 infants were enrolled in the study; 67 completed audiological assessment, 62, 54, and 58 of whom attended ear screenings at 2-4, 6-8 and 12-18 months., Results: Of the children that attended the audiological assessment, 36.5%, 50% and 64.3% of infants had otitis media (OM) at 2-4, 6-8 and 12-18 months. Using a 10 dB correction factor, 44.8% of infants had hearing loss (HL) (≥ 25 dB HL) at ∼ 12 months of age. More males (X 2 =5.4 (1df, p = 0.02)) and infants with OM at audiological assessment (X 2 =5.8 (1df, p = 0.02)) had HL. More infants that used a pacifier at 12-18 months of age had HL (X 2 =4.7 (1df, p = 0.03))., Conclusion: Aboriginal infants in an urban area have high rates of HL and OM, which requires early surveillance and timely treatment to reduce the medical and developmental impacts of OM and HL.

Objective: The present study aimed to assess the prevalence of otitis media and associated hearing loss among primary school students in the Solomon Islands., Methods: A total of 604 primary school students (280 males, 324 females) aged 4-15 years were assessed in two primary schools (government, nongovernment) in the capital city Honiara. School-based ear examinations were performed, including otoscopy and tuning-fork tests. Students were referred to the ENT Clinic for medical intervention and/or pure-tone audiometry assessment., Results: A total of 342 students (56.6%) did not pass their ear examination, with a significantly higher fail rate among younger students (p < 0.001). The most common ear pathology was Otitis Media with Effusion (OME) (34.2%), followed by impacted wax (22.8%), and Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media (3.1%). The follow-up attendance rate at the ENT Clinic was 81.1%. Among students with OME in at least one ear, 50% failed audiometry screening in the affected ear. While age was a significant factor for OME, it was not a significant factor for OME-associated hearing loss., Conclusions: Ear diseases with associated hearing loss are a significant public health problem among primary school students in the Solomon Islands. The implementation of routine School Ear and Hearing Programs could be beneficial, and should reduce the national burden of ear diseases., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: An understanding of parental knowledge and attitudes towards childhood hearing loss is essential to the successful implementation of audiology services. The present study aimed to investigate parental knowledge and attitudes among parents in the Solomon Islands., Methods and Materials: A total of 100 mothers and 50 fathers were administered a questionnaire via semi-structured interviews., Results: Highest parental awareness of aetiology of childhood hearing loss was noted for otitis media (94%), noise exposure (87.3%), and family history (72.7%). The highest parental awareness concerning public health initiatives to reduce/prevent otitis media was noted for routine childhood immunizations (84%) and breast-feeding (76%). Higher rates of knowledge in fathers than in mothers included otitis media (p = 0.038), noise exposure (p = 0.007), and breast-feeding (p = 0.031). Approximately half of parents (56%) agreed that curses may cause hearing loss. Overall parental responses showed positive support for infant hearing screening programs (96%) and school-based ear and hearing health examinations (99.3%)., Conclusions: High levels of parental readiness and support for childhood hearing services in the Solomon Islands was evident. Knowledge of aetiology of childhood hearing loss was highest for otitis media, noise exposure, and family history. Knowledge and attitudes of fathers to childhood hearing loss and hearing services was either the same or better than that of mothers., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Childhood hearing impairment is a significant cause of disability in developing countries. Otitis media and meningitis are leading infectious causes of preventable hearing loss in children. It is estimated that the Pacific Islands have among the greatest global burden of childhood hearing impairment due to infectious causes, and yet there is currently very little in the research literature on pediatric hearing disorders in this region., Objectives: (1) To review existing research literature on pediatric hearing impairment in the Pacific Islands, and (2) to present a public health approach to the development and improvement of childhood hearing services in the Pacific Islands., Data: The primary tool was a comprehensive literature review. MEDLINE and ScienceDirect databases were searched for relevant journal articles. There was no limit on the date of publication. Any article reporting on hearing impairment in the Pacific Region was included., Results: A total of 23 journal articles were found that satisfied the above inclusion criteria. The limited information available in the literature suggests that otitis media and vaccine-preventable infections are a significant cause of avoidable childhood hearing impairment in the Pacific Islands. Pediatric audiology services are limited in this region. Further research is required to develop effective public health programs that should reduce the burden of preventable childhood hearing loss in the Pacific Islands., Conclusions: There is limited information in the research literature on pediatric hearing impairment and audiology services in the Pacific Islands. Epidemiological data based on the WHO Ear and Hearing Disorders Survey Protocol are urgently needed, and the development of audiology services within the existing public and primary health care framework should reduce the burden of preventable hearing loss in the Pacific Islands., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To examine whether diets involving reduced chewing affect the degree of cerumen impaction in older people in residential care. Methods: A total of 51 people (53% male) over 65 years (80.5 ± 9.3) were recruited from two residential aged care facilities in Perth, Australia. Participants were classified as "chewers" (on unrestricted or soft food diets), or "non‐chewers" (on pureed or nil by mouth diets), and completed a survey about predisposing factors for cerumen impaction. Otoscopy and tympanometry were used to assess cerumen impaction and ear canal occlusion. Participants with excess cerumen were referred for wax removal. Results: No significant difference in cerumen accumulation was found between groups. However, 57% of participants showed excess cerumen requiring removal. Conclusion: Diets involving reduced chewing are not associated with increased cerumen in older people in residential care. The prevalence of cerumen impaction is high in this population, and improved cerumen screening and management is needed in residential aged care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]