Jiunn?Yih Su|Steven Guthridge|Vincent Yaofeng He|Damien Howard|Amanda J. Leach
The impact of hearing impairment on early academic achievement in Aboriginal children living in remote Australia: a data linkage study
Charles Darwin University|Menzies School of Health Research|Charles Darwin University|Menzies School of Health Research|Charles Darwin University|Menzies School of Health Research|Phoenix Houses of New England|Charles Darwin University|Menzies School of Health Research
abstract background prevalence otitis media om related hearing loss remained persistently high among groups australian aboriginal children also reported poor academic outcomes general literature remains inconclusive association omrelated hearing loss academic performance primary school study aimed investigate association aboriginal children living northern territory nt australia methods retrospective observational cohort study conducted 2208 nt aboriginal children aged 8 years living remote remote communities explanatory variable audiometrically determined hearing level recorded remote hearing assessment dataset outcome variable consisted scale scores five domains national assessment program literacy numeracy naplan year 3 linked datasets used study included school attendance records perinatal records community level information relative remoteness socioeconomic disadvantage housing crowdedness fixed effects linear regression models used statistical analyses results compared children normal hearing controlling range covariates children mild hearing impairment hi scored lower writing spelling 150 points 95 ci 224 76 p lt 00005 50 points 95 ci 96 03 p 0037 equivalent 73 21 mean score respectively children moderate worse hi scored lower writing numeracy 134 points 95 ci 248 19 p 0022 152 points 95 ci 276 27 p 0017 equivalent 63 mean score respective domain factors associated poorer naplan results included male lower year 2 school attendance low birthweight average household sizegt 5 persons living remote community speaking english second language conclusions omrelated hi independently associated poorer early year academic achievement aboriginal children living remote nt communities interventions improve academic outcomes aboriginal children must incorporate actions address negative impact associated hi early detection effective treatment ongoing support affected children