News release

From: The Westmead Institute for Medical Research

National study reveals persistent vision and hearing health gap for Indigenous Australians

A new national study led by WIMR PhD student Richard Kha has found Indigenous Australians aged 50 years and older continue to experience a significantly higher burden of vision and hearing impairment than non Indigenous Australians.

A nationally representative Australian study published in The Lancet Global Health has found that vision impairment remains almost three times more prevalent among Indigenous Australians aged 50 and older than non Indigenous Australians, while younger Indigenous adults experience substantially higher rates of moderate or worse hearing impairment.

The research was led by Dr Richard Kha, a PhD student at The Westmead Institute for Medical Research and the University of Sydney, with senior author Professor Gerald Liew, from WIMR and the University of Sydney.

The study analysed data from the Australian Eye and Ear Health Survey, which assessed more than 4,500 Australians across 30 sites nationwide. It is the first nationally representative study to examine vision and hearing impairment together among Indigenous and non Indigenous Australians aged 50 years and older.

The study found that age standardised vision impairment was 11.1 per cent among Indigenous participants, compared with 3.9 per cent among non Indigenous participants. Among younger Indigenous adults, moderate or worse hearing impairment was almost three times higher in those aged 50 to 59, and around twice as high in those aged 60 to 69, compared with non Indigenous Australians of the same age.

Lead author Dr Richard Kha said the findings point to an ongoing and important health equity challenge.

“Vision and hearing impairment can have a major impact on a person’s independence, communication, quality of life and connection to community,” Dr Kha said.

“Our findings show that while there have been improvements in eye health nationally, significant gaps remain for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, particularly in vision impairment and earlier onset hearing impairment.”

The study identified several factors associated with increased risk of vision and hearing impairment, including increasing age, diabetes, smoking and living in remote or very remote areas. Protective factors included tertiary education, private health insurance and having had a recent eye examination.

Professor Gerald Liew said the findings highlight the need for earlier detection, better access to care and culturally safe approaches to improving sensory health.

“Many causes of vision and hearing impairment are preventable or treatable, but access to timely, culturally appropriate care is critical,” Professor Liew said.

“This research gives us nationally representative evidence that can help guide better policy, better service planning and more targeted support for communities most affected.”

The research incorporated Indigenous governance and advisory input from the study’s earliest stages, with consultation involving Indigenous Elders, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations and community representatives to support culturally safe design, recruitment and conduct.

Dr Kha said this was central to the strength of the study.

“Research involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples must be guided by cultural safety, community engagement and respect,” he said.

“We are grateful to the participants, communities, Elders and organisations who contributed their time, trust and guidance to this work.”

The authors said the findings support the need for earlier detection in younger community members, improved access to eye and ear health services, stronger outreach to remote communities, culturally safe health education and broader action to address diabetes, smoking and social disadvantage.

The study was funded by the Australian Government and Macquarie University.

About WIMR

The Westmead Institute for Medical Research is one of Australia’s leading medical research institutes. Embedded in the Westmead Health Precinct, WIMR brings researchers, clinicians, hospitals and partners together to advance discoveries that improve diagnosis, treatment and care for patients and communities.

About the University of Sydney

The University of Sydney is one of Australia’s leading research and teaching institutions, working across disciplines to improve lives through discovery, education, innovation and impact.