“Can you hear me?”
A familiar question with growing urgency. What if the threats to our hearing go beyond the loud sounds we hear daily and include hidden dangers like some infections or medications? These risks are real and can be especially harmful to children’s developing ears.
Let’s have a conversation about this.
The Summit: Fostering Conversations
On November 15, 2024, we did.
Through the successful National Deafness Sector Summit.
The Summit is part of a series of ongoing hearing health conversations, aspiring to a broader vision: hearing health for all, at every stage of life.
With this Summit, “Protecting Young Ears: Navigating Disease & Medication Risks,” we brought you leading experts: Dr. Duaa Gaafar from Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, and A/Prof Hayley Smithers-Sheedy, Kath Swinburn, and Pam Rogers from Cerebral Palsy Alliance.
Joined by about 100 participants, they shared the impact of congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) and antibiotics on children’s hearing—and, importantly, discussed prevention strategies.
Some Learnings from the First Summit
- 34 million children globally suffer from hearing loss.
- 40% of children treated with certain antibiotics may experience permanent hearing loss, but no national guidelines exist to mitigate this harm.
- 20-30% permanent sensorineural hearing loss in young children is caused by cCMV—but it can be easily preventable.
- Preventing irreversible hearing loss is more than protecting hearing; it’s preserving a child’s ability to thrive, learn, and connect.
Dynamic Platform: A Catalyst for Change
The Summit is more than just an event—it’s a platform for change. We’re making hearing health a national priority through engagement and information and breaking down barriers to participation and learning.
In Case You Missed It. . .
No worries—we’ve got you covered:
- Watch the recording.
- Read the transcript.
- View the presentations (Antibiotics/CMV).
- Explore our Summit reflection paper.
Looking Ahead: Conversations that Matter
Healthy hearing is often key in how we experience the world, connect, and live life.
Our first Summit demonstrates with the right knowledge, we can create a quality future for all.
But it’s just the beginning—conversations spark action. And future discussions will keep shaping our approach to hearing health.
Share the topics you want from future Summits here. Then watch for updates.