News release

From: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)

Improvements in ear health for First Nations children

The proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (First Nations) children who reported a long-term ear or hearing problem has more than halved over the past couple of decades.

Published today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), Ear and hearing health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 2025 explores a range of ear and hearing health measures for First Nations people.

‘First Nations children experience some of the highest rates of ear disease and hearing loss in the world, much of which is preventable,’ said AIHW spokesperson Professor Kelvin Kong AM (Chair of the AIHW Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ear and Hearing Health Data and Reporting Advisory Group and Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeon).

‘Improved access to comprehensive, culturally appropriate and safe health services are needed to support better health outcomes among First Nations children.’  

Ear and hearing problems were reported among 4.9% of First Nations children aged 0–14 in 2022–23, a substantial decrease from 11.2% in 2001. These problems were mainly caused by middle ear infections.

‘Early detection and treatment of middle ear infections are critical, especially for very young children aged 0–4, to prevent repeated infections and hearing loss,’ said Professor Kong.

Among all First Nations people, children aged 0–2 had the highest rate of presentation to an emergency department for an ear related problem. The rate for children 0–2 has increased from 23.6 to 29.7 per 1,000 population between 2016–17 and 2023–24.

For ear related hospital procedures, First Nations children aged 3–4 had the highest rate of any First Nations age group (29.3 per 1,000 population) in 2023–24.  

‘Having healthy ears and being able to hear well supports language development and transmission of culture through speech, as well as learning, employment and social and community connections,’ said Professor Kong.  

While there has been significant improvement in hearing health over the past 2 decades, the results of the report demonstrate the need for further investment in ear and hearing health, with a focus on young First Nations children.