19 Aug 2014
Because of the support our school has shown to the Hearing Team and a special initiative (The Ear Bus project) we were one of the first schools to be visited. Although the actual bus is yet to be purchased, The Ear Bus project is gaining momentum as a number of western communities see the need to provide hearing screenings for their children.
Over two days (last Thursday and Friday) the team, joined by WACHS on Friday, were able to assess 104 students. That was the good news and the not-so-good news is that 42 of the 104 tested were in need of follow-up medical attention. Without these tests ear and hearing problems in many cases can go undiagnosed and this can have very serious consequences for some children. Of the 42 students in need of attention a few of these require immediate attention.
Immediate attention is not always available and this is the next problem because the urgent attention is often linked to private health care or the ability of parents to pay the medical and hospital fees. Normal wait time can be excessive for public patients, time some children don't really have.