Nutrition and healthy ears

Loss of hearing can have a profound impact on a child's learning and development. Read here for more information.

The main cause of hearing loss amongst children is Otitis Media, also known as glue or runny ear.  

Some studies show that up to 91 percent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children experience Otitis Media particularly in regional and remote communities.

"So it's a really big problem," says child health nurse, Robyn Lea at the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service in Woollongabba.  

Robyn says breastfeeding is one of the best defences a mother has in preventing Otitis Media.  

"When they’re feeding from the breast they’re getting all the good jaw movement, which helps drain all the fluid that sits behind the ear,” she says. 

“The other part of breastfeeding are the antibodies that are passed down; so all of the mother’s defence that she’s developed over the years comes across in the breast milk and helps keep that baby strong fighting infections."

She also recommends encouraging children as they get older to eat a variety of fruit and vegetables to strengthen their body.

"Also, if they’re crunching on an apple, or a carrot, or munching on something that’s really hard for them to chew that helps move the fluid behind the ear as well.”

Children with ear infections can have no symptoms.  Ask your doctor, health worker or nurse  for an ear check each visit.

Otitis Media is a medical term for middle ear infection. Too many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children experience Otitis Media.  Click here to read more about the signs and symptoms.

Recurrent middle ear infections can lead to hearing loss and have a lifelong effect on children.

If your child has problem ears they may need to see a range of health professionals from a health worker and doctor to specialists like a audiologist, speech therapist, ear nose throat doctor or an occupational therapist (or OT for short).

"Occupational therapists work across the life span so from children right through to older adults," says Jody Booth (pictured) an OT with Queensland Health's Deadly Ears program.  

"We’re interested in what people do to occupy their time and any of the barriers that might stop them for doing that." 

Jody says an OT who works with children will look at how they play, engage in school, social skills and self-care such as dressing, eating or going to the toilet.  Ear disease and hearing loss can  affect these activities.    

"My role within Deadly Ears is to work with the community to look at how ear disease impacts on kids doing what they need to do in their everyday life.  So primarily looking at play and learning and how ear infections stop them from being able to participate as fully in their role as kids.”

Listen `Ear is funded under the National Indigenous Ear Health Campaign, an Australian Government initiative.  Read more.