Dozens of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children have received free and fast-tracked surgery to prevent hearing loss and chronic ear disease.
Jahkye is one of 100 children whose lives have been transformed by the Djaalinj Waakinj (listening and hearing) Ear Health program in Western Australia.
The seven-year-old underwent free and fast-tracked grommet surgery after being born with 90 per cent hearing loss.
Jahkye said his first word, ‘mum’, a month later and now has 100 per cent hearing in one ear and just 15 per cent hearing loss in the other.
‘He was 14 months old, this was after his first surgery,’ his mum, Nikki Naylor, said.
‘I can’t even begin to tell you how that feels.’
About 50 per cent of Aboriginal children experience recurrent middle ear infections, known as otitis media, which can lead to hearing loss by just six-months-old.
Through the program, eligible children can be treated for the chronic condition within six weeks, instead of waiting for surgery on a public waitlist for almost three years.
Jahkye (pictured) is one of 100 children whose lives have been transformed by free surgery
About 50 per cent of Aboriginal children experience recurrent middle ear infections, known as otitis media, which can lead to hearing loss by the age of just six-months-old
Through the program, eligible children are treated for chronic ear conditions in just six weeks, instead of three years on a public waitlist
Surgeons install a tiny piece of plastic, the grommet, across the eardrum to help drain fluid and equalise pressure in the middle ear.
Through the program, eligible children are treated for the chronic condition in just six weeks, instead of waiting almost three years on a public waitlist.
George Sim, a paediatric ear, nose and throat surgeon and Associate Professor, recently performed his 100th grommet surgery.
He has consulted with 350 children in the last seven years, with 430 families able to access the specialist treatment since the program was launched in 2018.
‘It is a very fulfilling feeling to be involved since 2018 to make a difference to the lives of many, many children who otherwise would be waiting for a very long time for the treatment they need,’ he said.
‘From two months old up to 40 per cent of kids started having immediate ear problems, based on our health studies, and that carried on to about 50 per cent at six months old.
‘This is the crucial age group where these kids will start to lay down speech and language pathways so if there are delays in hearing it leads to speech and developmental issues.’
The program is the result of a partnership between the St John of God Murdoch Hospital, the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases based at The Kids Research Institute Australia, and Cockburn Integrated Health.
Hospital staff have also raised $140,000 through their own fundraising efforts, with contributions from St John of God Health Care taking the total raised to $220,000.
