We all want our children to have a strong start in life, and good hearing is an important part of this. That’s why the Australian Government has developed the Care for Kids’ Ears campaign. The campaign includes resources for parents and carers, early childhood groups, teachers and teachers’ aides and health professionals, providing important information on keeping kids’ ears healthy.
The Care for Kid’s Ears campaign aims to increase awareness among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people(s) of ear disease, highlight risk factors for ear disease and promote the importance of seeking and following treatment to prevent hearing loss.
A range of electronic and hard copy resources have been developed to get these important ear health messages out to the community. A number of these resources have been translated to up to 22 Indigenous languages that are spoken across Australia.
A ‘Talking Book’ has been produced which communicates ear health promotion messages in English and a range of Indigenous languages. This engaging resource can be used by health workers in a professional setting or by parents and carers in the home. The ‘Talking Book’ is available for download at the itunes and Google Play store.
These new electronic resources complement the range of popular information resources that are already available through the campaign website. All the Care for Kids’ Ears resources aim to reduce ear disease and keep children’s ears healthy. For health professionals, regular ear checks for otitis media are important.
“Kids’ ears should be checked every time they’re at the clinic. If they’re coming in for an immunisation, a chest infection, or even a splinter on their toe – check their ears,” Sandi Nelson, Youth Hearing Health Coordinator says.
“A quick 10 minute test can make all the difference. It’s impossible to underestimate the importance of kids’ hearing.”
The Care for Kids’ Ears resources for parents and carers, early childhood and community groups, teachers and health professionals can be downloaded or ordered from the Care for Kids’ Ears’ website.
Online videos telling parents, health workers and teachers stories about the impact of ear disease on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children can be viewed HERE.
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