When we consider indigenous hearing loss in Australia, the contribution of early childhood ear disease draws much attention. The prevention and treatment of the disease has been a high priority.
However, the mitigation of the impact of the resulting hearing loss on Indigenous disadvantage needs to be as big a focus as prevention and treatment of ear disease.
It is a factor contributing to the gaps between Indigenous and other Australians. It acts as a wedge keeping these gaps open. Read more
Recent census data found that 80% of indigenous people with hearing loss were unaware that they had a hearing loss. This invisibility leads to compounded disadvantage. When the person with the hearing loss and others do not know there is a hearing loss other factors are considered the cause of poor communication – the person’s lack of motivation, limited capacity, poor English, etc. are common explanations. But these kinds of explanations can be very damaging for people who they are directed at. They are often perceived as discrimination. It is no surprise that it was found in the Census that Aboriginal people with hearing loss more often complained about being discriminated against.
Current mainstream systems are failing to address how to improve communication issues and their adverse outcomes. The systems are failing. We need to look at why and do things differently.
One issue is the reactive model of service delivery. People need to identify they have a hearing loss and proactively engage with only some solutions, such as obtaining hearing aids, which happens through a very bureaucratic process. This reactive model does not work well in an Indigenous context where people have had hearing loss from a young age but do not realise they have a hearing loss. In this context, systems need to be much more proactive in helping people identify they have a hearing loss and understand the benefits of amplification.
About the authors: Damien Howard is a Consulting Psychologist. Jody Barney is a Certified Aboriginal Disability Cultural Consultant.