Deadly Ears Program - CHQHHS

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children currently have one of the highest rates of otitis media---or middle ear disease-in the world. Ear and hearing health is a major public health concern as hearing loss affects how a person interacts, understands and communicates with the world around them.

*Working in 11 partner locations across rural and remote Queensland where we deliver frontline clinical services and build local capacity;

*Corordinating policy and practice changes across the health, ealry childhood and education sectors;

*Delivering workforce training and professional development for healthcare porfessionals and educators;

*Undertaking research to improve the prevention, treatment and management of middle ear disease and it's impacts on early childhood development.

The Deadly Ears Program consists of four teams:

• The Primary Health Team - which provides training and professional development, and sector-level support to healthcare professionals and service providers.
• The Allied Health Team - which provides audiology, speech pathology and occupational therapy services and support to children and families as well as to allied health, early years and education professionals and services to identify and manage hearing loss and other impacts associated with middle ear disease.
• The Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) Outreach Team -which provides specialist outreach ENT clinics and surgeries for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children with otitis media and associated conductive hearing loss.
• The Administration Team -which provides support to the other teams so they can do their work.