HEARING SCREENING IN AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINAL UNIVERSITY-STUDENTS

Many indigenous peoples have been found to show an increased prevalenc e of both middle ear disorder and associated conductive hearing loss. Hearing loss may cause educational disadvantage during school years. F or many indigenous populations in developed countries there are now in creasing opportunities to participate in established formal education. This has led to greater numbers of indigenous students in post-second ary education. This study examined the results of a three-year hearing health programme for Australian Aboriginal students entering universi ty studies. Prevalence rates were compared with those of urban Aborigi nal adult non-students and non-indigenous populations. It was found th at 15.5% of indigenous university students had a unilateral or bilater al hearing loss. Recommended screening procedures and methods to enhan ce classroom listening for indigenous hearing impaired students were s uggested.