Self-reported hearing loss in urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults: unmeasured, unknown and unmanaged

Alice M. Pender; Philip J. Schluter; Roxanne G. Bainbridge; Geoffrey K. Spurling; Wayne J. Wilson; Claudette ‘Sissy’ Tyson; Deborah A. Askew

doi:10.1071/PY24024

RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

Previous Contents Vol 30(4)

Self-reported hearing loss in urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults: unmeasured, unknown and unmanaged

Alice M. Pender

^A ^B ^C ^* , Philip J. Schluter

^A ^D , Roxanne G. Bainbridge

^E , Geoffrey K. Spurling

^A ^F , Wayne J. Wilson

^B , Claudette ‘Sissy’ Tyson ^F and Deborah A. Askew

^A

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A The University of Queensland, General Practice Clinical Unit, Herston, Qld 4006, Australia.

^B The University of Queensland, School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, St Lucia, Qld 4067, Australia.

^C Audiology Department, The Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital, Herston, Qld 4029, Australia.

^D The University of Canterbury, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha, School of Health Sciences, Te Kura Mātai Hauora, Christchurch, Cantebury, Waitaha, 8041, Aotearoa, New Zealand.

^E The University of Queensland, Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, Toowong, Qld 4066, Australia.

^F Southern Queensland Centre of Excellence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care, Inala, Qld 4077, Australia.

^* Correspondence to: a.pender@uq.edu.au

Australian Journal of Primary Health 30, PY24024 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY24024

Submitted: 7 March 2024 Accepted: 28 May 2024 Published: 1 July 2024

© 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of La Trobe University. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)

Abstract

Background

Effective management of hearing loss in adults is fundamental for communication, relationships, employment, and learning. This study examined the rates and management of self-reported hearing loss in urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults.

Methods

A retrospective, observational study of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged ≥15 years who had annual health checks at an urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary healthcare clinic in Inala, Queensland, was conducted to determine self-reported hearing loss rates by age and ethnic groups stratified by sex. A medical record audit of patients who self-reported hearing loss from January to June 2021 was performed to identify current management approaches, and the proportion of patients that were appropriately managed.

Results

Of the 1735 patients (average age 40.7 years, range 15.0–88.5 years, 900 [52.0%] women) who completed 3090 health checks between July 2018 and September 2021, 18.8% self-reported hearing loss. Rates did not differ between men and women. However, significant effects were noted for age, with rates increasing from 10.7% for patients aged 15–24 years to 38.7% for those aged ≥65 years. An audit of 73 patient medical records revealed that 39.7% of patients with self-reported hearing loss were referred to Ear, Nose and Throat/audiology or received other management. A total of 17.8% of patients owned hearing aids.

Conclusions

Only 40% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults who self-reported hearing loss were referred for management. Significant changes to clinical management and government-funded referral options for hearing services are required to improve the management of self-reported hearing loss in this population.

Keywords: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults, chart review, Indigenous adults, management, primary health care, quantitative investigation, self-reported hearing loss, urban health.

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