Prevalence of hearing loss is higher in Australia’s rural than urban areas says LIAN GIJO, which is all the more reason for hearing care practitioners to practise in country regions.
By Lian Gijo
Hearing loss remains one of the most overlooked public health issues and a silent epidemic. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 430 million people in the world’s population require hearing rehabilitation. This is expected to grow to more than 700 million by 2050.
In this context, in underserved regions ranging from the remote villages of Africa to the Pacific island communities, access to hearing healthcare remains out of reach. By comparison, Australia has an upper hand with its strong public system that makes hearing care widely accessible. About one in 10 adults over the age of 65 years and one in 20 between 45-59 years experience some degree of hearing loss. Studies have found that prevalence of hearing loss is higher in rural Australia compared to urban areas, especially in parts of Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
A study that evaluated the key enablers and barriers in Australian hearing healthcare included the lack of knowledge about hearing and hearing health among primary health care providers, accessibility factors such as location of services and available educational resources, psychosocial support and reduced awareness of tele-audiology services. The insufficient number of hearing health specialists is often one other important barrier to meeting the demands in remote and rural communities. In this lens, the value of audiometrists and their global outreach work becomes clearer.
The shortage of audiological professionals in rural Australia has been established by several studies, with approximately 600 professionals serving a population of seven million. The trend of audiologists to move from regional areas to the cities as their career progresses is also widely seen.
Another aggravator was the limited access to audiological training for rural students or the unwillingness to travel to study in metropolitan areas; or if they did, reluctance to return to rural areas upon graduation. This gap has been resolved with the introduction of remote study options for Cert IV in Audiometry and the Diploma in Audiometry, training audiometrists to tackle challenges in the hearing healthcare sector and meet the increased demand of hearing healthcare professionals in rural Australia.
Audiometrists are essential to provide hearing healthcare services through mobile hearing units, outreach teams and community clinics, conducting hearing assessments, dispensing of hearing aids and referral of complex cases to audiologist and ENTs. As the trend in hearing loss prevalence is changing, they play a critical role in the early intervention of children through play audiometry and hearing rehabilitation among adult populations.
The situation is even more pressing when it comes to the Indigenous communities. Hearing loss among Indigenous communities of Australia such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young adults is high in prevalence and characterised by early onset, persistence, and greater severity.
When left untreated, it can lead to chronic hearing loss and affect long-term wellbeing. This also focuses on the need for more Indigenous workers trained through courses such as Cert IV in Audiometry for Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders provided at the Australasian College of Audiometry. Here, professionals are uniquely positioned to help, focusing on practical care and community engagement, which aligns with the needs of culturally diverse populations, helping build trust and provide more culturally appropriate care.
Bringing global skills to rural Australia
Some skills that translate powerfully in rural Australian settings, eliminating some of the common barriers are:
- The ability to work with limited resources and creative solutions
- Being able to communicate across cultural differences
- The skills to navigate community dynamic with respect and humanity
- A focus on education and empowerment, not just treatment.
Pathways and possibilities: Getting involved
For audiometrists keen to make a difference in their communities, there are several meaningful ways to become involved, including:
- Volunteering with NGOs which focus on global hearing health
- Initiating and/or joining outreach programs in remote and regional Australia
- Supporting Indigenous-led organisations as clinicians and advocates.
A profession with global and local purpose
The global trend of hearing loss affects millions worldwide and disproportionately affects vulnerable communities. Hearing healthcare professionals stand at the frontline of a quiet revolution, one where more people can hear, connect, learn, and thrive. Their hands-on skills, growing global experience and human-centered approach make them invaluable not only overseas, but in Australia where hearing healthcare equity has a long way to go.
Whether you are early in your career or an experienced audiologist or audiometrist, there has never been a more important time to broaden your horizons. The world and Australia need you.
About the author: Ms Lian Gijo is a clinical audiologist and educator with the Australasian College of Audiometry.
