13December2017

Indigenous kids suffer hearing 'life

sentence'
When a six-year old indigenous child presented to surgeon
Kelvin Kong with a maggot in his ear it wasn't in a remote part
of Australia. It was in Newcastle north of Sydney with five
major hospitals nearby.

QLD Senior Australian of the Year

Dr Dimity Dornan has dedicated decades of her life to bringing
sound to the lives of deaf children.

National Disability Insurance Scheme

and the Hearing Services Program
The Australian Government Hearing Services Program will merge in
part with the NDIS. Read about the changes.

Tips for purchasing a hearing aid

Choosing the right hearing aid and provider can be difficult.
Before you buy a hearing aid, there are some steps you can
take to protect yourself.

World Hearing Day 2018

New planning resources available.

We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land, community, sea, and waters where we live and work. We pay our respect to
elderspast,presentandfutureandvaluethecontributionsIndigenousAustraliansmakeinoursociety.Weacknowledgethechallengefor
IndigenousleadersandfamiliestoovercometheunacceptablyhighlevelsofearhealthissuesamongfirstAustralians.
Indigenous suffer hearing 'life sentence'
Medical groups are shining a light on the plight of middle ear conditions in indigenous
communities, with rates reported to be the highest in the world.

When a six-year old indigenous child presented to surgeon Kelvin Kong with a maggot in his ear it
wasn't in a remote part of Australia.

It was in Newcastle north of Sydney with five major hospitals nearby.

"You look at the notes and the medical history and it was really disparaging to see on every
admission to hospital there was a problem there that it wasn't addressed," Dr Kong said.

The family had tried to get help on more than six occasions, including at a hospital emergency
department.

"Because it's not a heart attack, it's not a car crash, it's a low priority - yet to this kid it's a high
priority," Dr Kong said.

And while he wasn't saying that emergency department had

failed, he was pointing out the disparity between treatment
for indigenous Australians and others in the community.

"It broke my heart that this kid had been diagnosed with
autism, with aspergers, with other kind of behavioural issues
when no-one bothered to do a simple thing as a hearing
test."

Dr Kong used the example to highlight the prevalence of chronic otitis media, a group of
inflammatory conditions of the middle ear - the focus of this year's Australian Medical Association's
report card on indigenous health.

The report card cites research from Northern Territory indigenous communities showing only
seven per cent of children assessed have normal ears.

Estimates generally show an indigenous child will suffer middle ear infections and associated
hearing loss on average for 32 months from the age of two to 20 years - compared to just three
months for non-indigenous children.

AMA president Dr Michael Gannon said everyone at the launch had probably experienced such ear
inflammation at some point, but rates in indigenous communities are reported to be the highest in
the world.
"For most non-indigenous Australian children otitis media is readily treated with a short course of
antibiotics," he told the launch.

But for indigenous children it can mean a "life sentence" of hearing harm, troubles at school and
behavioural issues.

"You can see how a potentially harmless bacterial infection can, if unchecked, if untreated, literally
ruin someone's life," Dr Gannon said.

The association calls for a co-ordinated national response to be developed by a National

Indigenous Hearing Health Taskforce under indigenous leadership for the Council of Australian
Governments.

Indigenous Health Minister Ken Wyatt said it was the responsibility of everyone that otitis media
was addressed, but it was important changes were made in partnership with local communities.
Labor spokesman Warren Snowdon said workforce shortages were biting in Northern Australia and
he encouraged doctors to head to the bush.

From SBS News, https://www.sbs.com.au/news/indigenous-suffer-hearing-life-sentence

Queenslands Senior of the Year Dr Dimity Dornan of

Hear and Say helps improve deaf childrens lives
By Susan Johnson, The Courier Mail

Queenslands Senior Australian of the Year for 2018, Dr Dimity Dornan, has dedicated decades of
her life to bringing sound to the lives of deaf children.

If the senior years of life are supposed to be about doing nothing much except ticking off
everything on your bucket list, Dr Dimity Dornan did not get the memo. Therell be no lying back
with a margarita on some exotic faraway beach for her. Instead, its business as usual for
Queensland Senior of the Year 2018, the states entrant in Australian Senior of the Year, to be
announced on January 25.

Recognised worldwide for her groundbreaking work changing the lives of thousands of deaf
children by helping them learn to listen and speak, Dornan was Queenslander of the Year in 2010,
but admits to being slightly taken aback when approached to be Queenslands Senior.

I suppose its really quite funny, Ive now moved up to the senior section! she says in our
interview in one of the beautifully designed rooms at Hear and Says premises in Brisbanes inner-
west Ashgrove, which opened in 2015. The Senior Australian of the Year people rang and asked
if Id like to accept it and I said, yes, Id love to, but then I had second thoughts later on. (I told
them) if I had to be Queenslands Senior Australian of the Year, Id really like it if you didnt use
my age if you can possibly do it.

But isnt there a certain irony here? A person of senior years being feted for her achievements not
wishing to mention her age? I prefer to be treated as a professional, rather than have age define
me, she says. I just feel that its such a competitive world, its much better to compete on your
merits, rather than your age.

Lets just say then that Dimity Dornan, PhD, AO, author, speech pathologist of more than 50
years standing, inspirational promoter of the largest paediatric cochlear implant program in
Queensland, which has used Auditory-Verbal Therapy (AVT) to empower some 10,000 children to
fulfil their potential in life, is older than 60 but younger than 100.

Hear and Say the private, not-for-profit organisation she established in 1992, treating six young
patients from rooms she shared with her physiotherapist husband Peter Dornan in the inner-
western Brisbane suburb of Toowong has just celebrated its 25th birthday. A new book cele-
brating the history of the centre, Sounds of Hope: The Hear and Say Story written by Brisbane
author Madonna King and published by University of Queensland Press, will be launched by
Governor Paul de Jersey.

Hear and Say now has six centres around Queensland, treating children and their families here, as
well as around the world, using new telecommunications technology that allows face-to-face
interaction. The acclaimed facility offers its services to any deaf baby or child no matter where
they live. Currently two in every 1000 babies are born deaf in Australia each year and it is the
most common disability in newborns. Hear and Say relies largely on fundraising on top of -
government grants.

Do we care if Dr Dimity Dornan is classified as a senior, junior or middle-aged Australian? My

guess is we care more that people like her keep doing what theyre doing, while the rest of us
keep being grateful.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/qweekend/queenslands-senior-of-the-year-dr-dimity-dornan-of-
hear-and-say-helps-improve-deaf-childrens-lives/news-story/d50d5250f5eb6973f13207a7edc8bc97
Redressing or entrenching social and health inequities
through policy implementation
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) draws on policy trends in the UK and Europe
towards personalisation of social services.

Funds are given directly to people with a disability so they can purchase services and supports
that best meet their needs, rather than standard one size fits all programs.

It has been argued that the NDIS has the potential to secure gains in health for hundreds of
thousands of Australians living with a disability. The different model of care (i.e. personalisation)
used by the NDIS is meant to enable access to more appropriate services, empowerment, social
and economic participation all of which are known social determinants of health. However,
policies are only as good as their implementation.

In a paper by Gemma Carey, Eleanor Malbon, Daniel Reeders, Anne Kavanagh and Gwynnyth
Llewellyn, the authors analyse the potential of the NDIS to redress, entrench or extend social and
health inequities.

The paper argues that the way that funding is located, and not simply the amount of funding
allocated, matters for health outcomes and inequalities.

The paper concludes that personalisation approaches can widen inequities and inequalities unless
careful consideration is given at both policy design and implementation stages.

Download the paper free at http://deafnessforum.org.au/knowledge-centre

http://www.audiologyaustralia2018.asn.au/
Break the Sound Barrier is the name of the campaign that aims to put
Hearing Health and Wellbeing on the national agenda.

One in six Australians has a hearing health and well-being issue.

An estimated 3.55 million Australians experienced some degree of hearing loss, making it a more
common health condition than cardiovascular disease, asthma, or diabetes. Due to Australias
ageing population the number of people experiencing hearing loss is also rising and is expected to
reach one in every four Australians by 2050.

People with a hearing loss or who communicate in Auslan are not recognised within the public
consciousness as having a serious disability that impacts on almost every aspect of a persons life.
We need you to share our campaign with your friends, colleagues and family members to
encourage them to sign up.

With millions of Australians affected, hearing health and wellbeing deserves to be a National
Health Priority.

www.breakthesoundbarrier.org.au
Tips for purchasing a hearing aid
Choosing the right hearing aid and provider can be difficult. Before you buy a hearing aid, there
are some steps you can take to protect yourself.
Do your research
Be aware the clinic is a business
Before your appointment
During your appointment
After your appointment
Speak up if something goes wrong
During your appointment
Here are some tips to help you make the right choice:
Ask the clinician to explain your audiogram so that you understand your hearing loss.
Ask the clinician to discuss the range of hearing aids and devices available and what the
different prices are.
Ask the clinician about the different features of the hearing aid. While some hearing
aids may have more features or functions than others, you may not need or want them.
If a clinician recommends a hearing aid, ask why. If you dont understand anything, ask
the clinician to repeat or clarify the information until you do understand. You have the
right to ask the practitioner if they are paid more to sell particular hearing aids, or why they
only sell certain brands or types of hearing aids.
Take notes if you think you may have trouble remembering important details (or ask your
support person to take notes for you).
Ask for a copy of your hearing test results, including the audiogram. Having copies of
test results will make it easier to shop around to find the best deal.
Ask for a quote, including the type and cost of any recommended hearing aid.
Find out if the hearing clinic offers a free trial period. Be sure to ask for the conditions of
any free trial period, including its end date.
Take your time to make a decision and remember its ok to say no. You should never
feel pressured or rushed into making a decision and you do not have to agree to anything
on the spot.

After your appointment

Shop around for the best deal, compare the offer you are looking at with others, and choose
whats right for you. You may also want to ask about the rehabilitation and support services
offered by the clinic.

If you dont feel comfortable with the information and recommendations from a clinician, get a
second opinion from a different hearing clinic.
Keep all the paperwork. Whenever you buy something, keep a copy of the receipts and anything
you sign. Make sure you keep any paperwork in a safe place where you can find it again. You
have the right to ask for a receipt for anything you buy or pay for.

You have the right to expect that what you buy does or performs as it is supposed to. If a
problem arises with your hearing aid or it does not perform as promised, you may be entitled to a
repair, replacement or refund.

Speak up if something goes wrong

Contact the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission at https://www.accc.gov.au/contact-
us/contact-the-accc

Join a discussion on hearing loss

You are invited to participate in a study about peoples experiences of hearing loss, and how
access to cochlear implant services is provided by healthcare professionals to help to improve
services for patients with hearing loss.

To participate in this study you will be over the age of 50 years, have severe to profound
sensorineural hearing loss which occurred after 5 years of age, be a hearing aid user and/or a
cochlear implant candidate (in the process of being evaluated). You will be asked to:
1. Participate in a 1.5-hour focus group discussion, and allow a researcher with an observer
present, facilitate, take notes and audio-record the focus group discussion. If you are unable to
attend the focus group, you may be interviewed over the phone/skype or email. You will not be
identified following the focus group and none of the data collected, will include your name.
2. Provide some information about yourself, like your age, and your experience of hearing loss in
a form that you will be asked to complete, just before or immediately following, the focus group.
3. Complete a brief survey, at a later date after the focus group is completed, about your hearing
loss and treatments.

This study is supported by Cochlear Ltd. Want to be involved? Contact Mia Bierbaum T: 02 9850
2445, mia.bierbaum@mq.edu.au

A planning template to help you design an event for World Hearing Day is available in the
Resources section at http://www.hearingawarenessweek.org.au/resources
 http://emeraldninja.com/snoopy-christmas-pictures.html

Merry Christmas and a peaceful new year to all. One in Six will return in late January.

Know someone who might like to receive One in Six in 2018?

To subscribe, drop us a line to hello@deafnessforum.org.au

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transcribe into braille.

Items in Deafness Forum communications incorporate or summarise views, standards or recommendations of third
parties or comprise material contributed by third parties or sourced from items published in the public domain.
Content may be edited for style and length. Our intention is to attain balance and be representative of all views
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commitment to a particular course of action. We make no representation or warranty about the accuracy, reliability,
currency or completeness of any third party information.

National Disability Insurance Scheme and the

Keep reading for
Hearing Services Program
National Disability Insurance Scheme and the Hearing
Services Program
What is the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)?
The NDIS will provide approximately 460,000 Australians under the age of 65 who have a
permanent and significant disability with the reasonable and necessary supports they need to live
an ordinary life. More details about the NDIS including how to become an NDIS participant can
be found on the NDIS website.

How does the NDIS affect the Hearing Services Program (the program)?
As part of the whole-of-Government Health reform, 17 existing Commonwealth programs which
provide support to people with disability will transition (in-whole or in-part) to the NDIS by mid-
2019.
The program has been identified to transition (in-part). This will affect only a small percentage of
program clients. The majority of clients will remain in the program and will continue to receive
high quality hearing services and supports.

Arent the NDIS and the program the same thing?

No. The NDIS provides Australians under the age of 65 who have a permanent and significant
disability with supports they need to enjoy an ordinary life. The program provides a suite of
hearing services and supports to eligible clients that aim to reduce the incidence and
consequences of hearing loss.

What happens after mid-2019?

The program will continue as the majority of program clients will not be eligible to access the
NDIS. People who are registered with the NDIS, known as NDIS participants, will no longer be
able to receive hearing services and supports through the program. Their supports and services
will be provided through the NDIS.

Keeping stakeholders informed

How are stakeholders kept informed?
Stakeholders are informed about how the NDIS affects the program through Contracted Service
Provider Notices (CSPN), the program website, NDIS website and professional body newsletters.

Information for program clients

Will all program clients transition to the NDIS?
No. Only a small percentage of program clients will be eligible to access the NDIS.

www.hearingservices.gov.au 1800 500 726 hearing@health.gov.au

Do you know whos likely to transition to the NDIS?
Yes. Based on the NDIS Operational Guidelines Access to the NDIS (reference 8.3.3 and
9.5.2) the following groups of program clients are likely to be eligible to access the NDIS and
become NDIS participants.
Children and young adults under 26 years old.
Some adults classed as complex clients.

Do I need to do anything?
No. If you are in one of these groups you will be contacted directly by the NDIS between now
and mid-2019 to determine if you can access the NDIS. This process will be undertaken at
the time the NDIS is available in the area you reside. Until then, you will continue to receive
your existing hearing services and supports through the program.

How do I know if I am an NDIS participant or a program client?

People who receive hearing services and supports through the NDIS are known as NDIS
participants. Until mid-2019, eligible NDIS participants can receive hearing services from both the
program and the NDIS. People who receive hearing services just through the program are known
as program clients.

How do I know if I am classed as a program complex client?

Your contracted service provider will be able to tell you if you are classed as a complex client.

What happens if I think Im eligible and want to know more about the NDIS before its
available in the area I reside?
Speak to your contracted service provider or refer to the My NDIS Pathway page on the NDIS
website for more information about becoming an NDIS participant.

When will the NDIS be available in the area I reside?

You will need to contact the NDIS directly to find out when the NDIS will be available in the area
you reside.
What happens if I dont want to transition to the NDIS?
If you have been contacted directly by the NDIS and meet their access criteria, you are
encouraged to transition to the NDIS. Under the NDIS, you will receive services and supports
equivalent to your current services and, in some cases, additional supports may also be funded.

Can I still receive my existing hearing services and supports through the program after I
have transitioned to the NDIS?
Yes. Up until mid-2019, eligible NDIS participants can also receive services and supports
through the program.

What happens if Im not eligible to access the NDIS?

You can continue to receive hearing services and supports through the program for as long as
you are eligible.

What happens after mid-2019?

People who are registered with the NDIS will no longer be able to receive hearing services and
supports through the program.

www.hearingservices.gov.au 1800 500 726 hearing@health.gov.au

Information for NDIS participants who are not program clients
Can I receive services and supports if Im not a program client?
Yes, but only until mid-2019. Your NDIS Planner may refer you to the program if your plan
identifies the need for hearing services that are available through the program.

How will my NDIS Planner refer me to the program?

Your NDIS Planner will complete an application for you, and send this to Hearing Services for
processing. To finalise the application you will need a medical certificate, even if you currently
have hearing aids.

Where can I find out more about the program?

Information about the program including types of services and fully subsidised devices that may
be available to you, are available on the information for NDIS participants page on the program
website.

Information for Contracted Service Providers

Which program clients might be eligible to access the NDIS?
Based on the NDIS Operational Guidelines Access to the NDIS (reference 8.3.3 and 9.5.2) we
anticipate that only a small percentage of program clients from the following groups are likely to
be eligible to access the NDIS and become NDIS participants.
Children and young adults under 26 years old.
Some adults classed as complex clients.

Can I provide services to NDIS participants and program clients?

Yes. Up until mid-2019, you can provide services and supports to both program clients and NDIS
participants.

When can I deliver services and supports to NDIS participants?

You can provide services and supports to NDIS Participants once they have been issued with a
welcome pack for the program. You can also use their NDIS number to check their eligibility on
the Hearing Services Online Portal. If the NDIS participant is under 26 years of age, the NDIS
Planner will refer them directly to Australian Hearing.

Do NDIS participants receive the same services and supports as program clients?
Yes. All eligible NDIS participants will have access to the same services and supports including
device arrangements as program clients.

How do I claim for hearing services provided to NDIS participants?

Claiming for services provided to NDIS participants are made in the same way as you currently
do for program clients, through the Hearing Services Online portal or through the Department of
Human Services e-claiming system.

Do I need to register as a NDIS provider now?

No. Contracted service providers are recognised by the NDIS as providers who can deliver
hearing services to NDIS participants until mid-2019.

Post mid-2019
The program will no longer provide services and supports or accept claims for NDIS participants.

www.hearingservices.gov.au 1800 500 726 hearing@health.gov.au

Can I still provide services to program clients?
Yes. The program will still exist and you can continue to provide services and supports to
program clients and submit claims in the usual way.

Can I provide services to NDIS participants?

Yes, but not through the program. You will need to register with the NDIS in order to deliver, and
claim for, services and supports to NDIS participants.

How do I register to become an NDIS provider?

Details about providing services under the NDIS are available on the NDIS website.

Who can I contact if I have a question about hearing services through the NDIS?
Questions about hearing services through the NDIS should be directed to the NDIS by
calling 1800 800 110 or emailing provider.support@NDIS.gov.au.

www.hearingservices.gov.au 1800 500 726 hearing@health.gov.au