Deafness Forum Australia will host a virtual national summit on Friday 15 November to discuss how congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV)) and aminoglycoside antibiotics can impact young ears and what can be done to prevent hearing loss.
“CMV is a leading cause of hearing loss in babies but it often goes unnoticed,” said Ms Jane Lee, national manager of health programs at Deafness Forum Australia, the nation’s peak citizen representative body in Hearing Health.
“Aminoglycoside antibiotics can save lives but improper use in children can cause irreversible hearing damage.”
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) can also cause cerebral palsy, and congenital cytomegalovirus is a significant cause of neurodevelopmental disability.
The summit entitled Protecting Young Ears: Navigating Disease & Medication Risks features experts discussing the importance of early prevention in hearing health, strategies for preventing cytomegalovirus, and how to navigate antibiotic risks to prevent hearing loss in babies, children and young people.
The forum is open to healthcare professionals, educators, advocates, parents, caregivers and anyone interested in hearing health and prevention. Captioning and Auslan interpreters will be available to ensure accessibility.
The four speakers are:
- Associate Professor Hayley Smithers-Sheedy, principal research fellow at the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Institute, The University of Sydney. She collaborates with a team of clinical experts to conduct research and to develop and evaluate programs aimed at the prevention of congenital cytomegalovirus.
- Ms Kath Swinburn, research officer and ethics governance manager at the institute, who co-leads CP Quest, an initiative aimed at involving people with lived experience in cerebral palsy research. Working in collaboration with researchers across Australia and New Zealand, Swinburn also leads a suite of research initiatives and programs aimed at the prevention of congenital cytomegalovirus.
- Dr Duaa Gaafar, a paediatrician and research fellow at the Royal Children’s Hospital and an honorary research fellow at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. She specialises in paediatric clinical pharmacology and focuses on adverse drug reactions, drug allergies, and pharmacogenomics. Dr Gaafar is involved in research projects exploring drug-related adverse effects in children as part of her PhD, contributing to safer prescribing practices and advancing paediatric pharmacology.
- Ms Pam Rogers, disability advocate and a parent who will share her personal journey with CMV and hearing loss. An early educator, and parent peer facilitator, she helps parents navigate complexities of raising children with disabilities and empowering them with knowledge and resources. She is a member of CP Quest and a research partner across a range of cCMV studies.
The summit will be this Friday 15 November from 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM (AEST).
