Ear and hearing health in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15 years and older: A scoping review

Abstract

Objective

Review empirical research investigating the prevalence, experiences and management of hearing loss and ear disease in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults.

Design

Scoping review.

Study samples

Searches of four electronic databases, Advanced Google, and key webpages identified 16,373 studies − 21 met inclusion criteria: original research relating to hearing/ear health and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults.

Results

Fourteen studies measured prevalence of hearing loss or middle-ear dysfunction, with a rate of hearing loss at an estimated 50% (reports ranging from 8% to 100%). Five studies reported views, attitudes, and experiences of hearing loss, with results showing hearing loss negatively impacted individual experiences in health and justice systems, and health professionals had limited understanding of the socioeconomic risk factors of middle ear disease. No articles directly reported on hearing loss management.

Conclusions

There is a lack of research into the hearing health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults, despite its critical importance in addressing health and social inequities. Given the widely varying and imprecise estimated rates of hearing loss detected, urgent action is needed to obtain accurate prevalence estimates and, in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, identify the best methods of screening and managing hearing loss.

Keywords:

• Aboriginal
• Torres Strait Islander
• hearing
• ear health
• adults
• Indigenous

Acknowledgements

AP gratefully acknowledges the Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital and RBWH Foundation for funding her time to dedicate to this project. We also gratefully acknowledge Mr Lars Erikson, Librarian from The University of Queensland, who developed the search strategy for this review.

Disclosure statement

Alice Pender is a non-Indigenous Australian conducting this research as part of her PhD candidature. Roxanne Bainbridge is a Gungarri researcher from western Queensland. Deborah Askew, Wayne Wilson, and Geoffrey Spurling are non-Indigenous Australians of European descent and Philip Schluter is a Pākehā (New Zealander of European descent).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital and RBWH Foundation.