26 July 2018

His parents had a gut feeling something

was wrong
Yinghara Hoolihan is one of an increasing number of Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander children whose lives have been
improved by getting hearing help at an earlier age. But
according to Australian Hearing, there is more work to be done
to reduce the significantly higher rates of hearing problems
Indigenous Australians face compared to other Australians.

Getting into the NDIS

Read our explanation in plain language.

Lucky country
Audiologist Ashish Prasher was part of a humanitarian mission
in Samoa. The experience confirmed his belief that Australians
“are lucky to live in a country” that has affordable hearing
healthcare.

2022 Australian Deaf Games

Newcastle and Lake Macquarie councils in NSW have secured the
rights to host the Deaf Games, which are held every four years
and attract a thousand athletes from across Australia and the
Pacific.

Accessible Archies
Conexu has made the 2018 Archibald Prize Finalists stories
accessible in captions and in sign language.

Deafness Forum acknowledges the traditional owners of country throughout Australia, and their continuing connection to land, sea and
community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to elders both past and present. We acknowledge the challenge for
Indigenous leaders and families to overcome the unacceptably high levels of ear health issues among first Australians.
Yinghara’s eyes lit up when he was fitted with his hearing aids
Daniella White for The Canberra Times

Jonelle Hoolihan and son Yinghara Hoolihan 3. Photo: Dion Georgopoulos

Yinghara Hoolihan’s eyes lit up the first time he was fitted with his hearing aids.

“What’s that mummy,” he would ask as a bird chirped, or a car blew its horn.

Yinghara’s parents had a gut feeling something was wrong, with recurring ear infections,
behavioural problems and speech problems.

During a regular a visit to Canberra's Winnunga Aboriginal Health Service he had his ears tested
through an Australian Hearing outreach clinic, finding he had undiagnosed hearing loss. Soon
after, he was given hearing aids to wear and had surgery to put in grommets and remove his
adenoids and tonsils.

The change in Yinghara, 3, was instantaneous, with his speech, behaviour and even sleep
improving dramatically.

Yinghara is one of an increasing number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children whose
lives have been improved by getting hearing help at an earlier age. But according to Australian
Hearing, there is more work to be done to reduce the significantly higher rates of hearing
problems Indigenous Australians face compared to other Australians.
Australian Hearing tracked Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children’s hearing aid fitting data
for the past 10 years. According to its research one in four Aboriginal children now receive their
hearing aids before the age of five, a significant improvement from 2008 when only one in ten
received them before the age of five.

Acting Managing Director of Australian Hearing Kim Terrell said "The first three years is so
important for learning language and learning to listen. Language connects the next generation to
their family, communities and cultural stories, and sets children up for success, giving them the
opportunity to reach their full potential."

In 2017-18 Australian Hearing provided help to more than 10,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander adults and children. This was achieved through mainstream and outreach programs in
more than 230 urban, regional and remote communities across Australia.

The organisation has also launched a six-month trial of a tele-outreach service that provides a
follow-up appointment with hearing impaired children in remote locations via video-chat after they
are fitted with their first hearing aid.

https://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/act/indigenous-children-s-access-to-hearing-aids-on-rise-
report-20180715-p4zrmt.html

Telethon Speech & Hearing has been working

with some of Australia’s leading fashion and
jewellery designers to create a range of designer
hearing aid accessories.

Five designers donated their time to create a range

of Designer Hearing Accessories which were
launched recently at Telethon Speech & Hearing’s
premier fundraising event Artitude Amplified.

Each Designer Hearing accessory is now being

auctioned off at designerhearing.com until 1
August 2018.

All proceeds raised will go back to helping children

with hearing, speech and language impairments at
Telethon Speech & Hearing.
NDIS access requirements in plain language
Eligibility for the National Disability Insurance Scheme depends on a person’s age, residency
status and disability. To access the NDIS you must satisfy the following 3 conditions:
1. be aged under 65 years AND
2. live in Australia and are an Australian citizen or hold a permanent visa or a Protected
Special Category visa AND
3. have a permanent impairment that significantly affects your ability to take part in everyday
activities or have a developmental delay.

The first two criteria are straightforward. The third point requires further explanation. The NDIA
has provided guidelines to clarify the access arrangements in relation to point 3, the disability
requirements.

The easiest way to look at the requirements relating to disability is firstly by age and then by
hearing loss.

1. Children and young people aged 0-25 years

Access is streamlined for people in this age group in recognition of the evidence that shows that
early intervention supports up to age 26 is critical for people with hearing impairment as the
developing brain requires consistent and quality sound input and other support over that period to
develop normally and ameliorate the risk of lifelong disability.

For this age group the evidence from an audiologist that shows:-
• auditory neuropathy or hearing loss equal to or greater than 25 decibels in either ear at 2
or more adjacent frequencies, which is likely to be permanent or long term; and
• the hearing loss necessitates the use of personal amplification
should be sufficient to satisfy the access requirements without the need for further assessment.

But what if a person has no auditory nerves? For participants under 25 years who have a
permanent hearing impairment the NDIS operational guidelines states: “The hearing loss of the
person necessitates the use of personal amplification.” It’s confusing but the NDIA said that it
does not mean the child has to wear personal amplification. So, if a child has no auditory nerve
and cannot wear a hearing device they will still meet the access criteria.

2. People aged 26 – 65 years

The level of evidence required to support an access request for people in this age group varies
according to the degree of hearing loss.

i) The NDIA has developed a list of conditions which are designed to streamline the access
process. A person with a permanent hearing impairment of greater than 90 decibels in the
better ear (pure tone average of 500Hz, 1000Hz, 2000Hz and 4000Hz) is eligible to join the
NDIS without the need to prove that their disability has substantially reduced their
 functional capacity. It is accepted that this degree of hearing loss will have a significant
impact on the person’s functional capacity.

For people with hearing loss less than 90 decibels, the NDIA has given further guidance on what
information is required of the applicant:-

ii) People with a permanent hearing impairment of 65 decibels or greater in the better ear
must provide evidence that the disability results in substantially reduced functional capacity
to undertake communication, social interaction, learning or self-management activities.

iii) Hearing impairments of less than 65 decibels in the better ear in conjunction with other
permanent impairments (which meet the NDIS access requirements for example vision or
cognitive impairments), or where there is evidence of significantly poorer than expected
speech detection and discrimination outcomes, may also be considered to result in
substantially reduced functional capacity to undertake relevant activities. People in these
circumstances may also be eligible to join the NDIS.

Providing good evidence will help the NDIA make the right decision about your eligibility for the
NDIS. The evidence should demonstrate the functional impact of your hearing impairment on
different areas of your life. It could relate to the communication challenges you experience in
relation to your employment, education and training, social participation, independence or health
and well-being. Your audiologist may be required to provide the evidence to support your NDIS
Access Request, so you need to ensure your audiologist fully understands how your hearing loss is
impacting on your daily life.

NDIS Self-Management webinar

Thursday 2nd August from 11am – 12pm AEST.

This free public web broadcast will give information and insights about what self-management is,
how to self-manage NDIS funds and the responsibilities people have when electing to self-
manage. It will also discuss opportunities for choice and control over what and who supports
them.

The webinar will be an interactive forum for participants, families and carers who want to learn
more about what’s involved in self-managing NDIS funds.

You can join the conversation from wherever you are by watching the broadcast and asking your
questions via live chat. The webinar will include Auslan interpretation and live captions, and if you
can’t join on the day the content will be posted later to the NDIS website.

Go to https://www.ndis.gov.au/news/events/all
The lucky country
By Max McKinney for The Newcastle Herald

Audiologist Ashish Prasher says a recent humanitarian mission in Samoa confirmed his belief that
Australians “are lucky to live in a country” that has affordable hearing healthcare.

Mr Prasher travelled to the Pacific Island nation last month with another four audiologists as part
of ‘Hear for Good’, an initiative from independent Australian hearing health provider National
Hearing Care.

Research suggests Samoa is home to more than 4,000 people with untreated hearing loss, but
according to National Hearing Care the nation has no qualified audiologists.

“Hearing impairment is a serious health issue in Samoa,” Mr Prasher said. “Locals catch 6am
ferries and patiently wait all-day just to consult with an audiologist.

“In Australia, we often take easy access to affordable hearing healthcare for granted, so it’s been
extremely rewarding to offer support and solutions to those who are hearing impaired and cannot
access even a free check.”

With the help of a local team, Mr Prasher and the ‘Hear for Good’ team conducted hearing tests,
fitted hearing aids and educated users on hearing aid care and maintenance.

The team fitted more than 300 hearing impaired locals with free refurbished hearing aids. The
aids were donated by everyday Australians who were clients of National Hearing Care.
“Over the past few years, I have seen first-hand how hearing aids can change a person’s life, but
seeing the impact for so many people at once was very powerful,” Mr Prasher said. “I had the
chance to help an 11-year old boy who found school and socialising difficult because he suffered
from severe hearing loss. We fitted him with hearing aids, and It was an incredibly touching
moment for the team. He cried tears of joy at being able to hear the world for the very first
time.”

Mr Prasher, who is originally from India but now calls Newcastle home, says the experience was
the first of its kind he has taken after nine years working as an audiologist.

“This was my first trip, but I’m looking forward to doing more trips in the future,” he said. “I’ve
heard of similar trips, but opportunities like these tend to be harder to find for audiologists
compared to general doctors and nurses as the work is more specialised.”

“We are lucky to live in a country where free hearing checks are available to every Australian and
can be easily accessed,” Mr Prasher said.

https://www.theherald.com.au/story/5507472/hunter-hero-samoa-trip-an-eye-opener-for-audiologist-ashish-prasher/

The benefit of seeing an audiologist

The last edition of One in Six included a story about the role of audiologists (see The benefit of
seeing an audiologist, 11 July 2018 edition).

The article said: “Referral from a doctor or other healthcare professional to an audiologist allows
diagnostic hearing and balance tests to be performed that are covered by Medicare. This means
that individuals who wish to have hearing checks on a more regular basis (i.e. without a referral)
may benefit from private health insurance.”

Independent Audiologists wrote: “In fact, Medicare funding is available to ENTs or neurologists for
diagnostic audiology work carried out on their behalf by anyone under their supervision – that
could be an audiologist but need not be. Referrals from GPs need to be made to ENTS or
neurologists. ENTs and neurologists can in turn request diagnostic audiology services funded by
Medicare (hearing assessments, but not balance assessments) from audiologists, but it is not a
referral - it is a request with conditions attached. The amount rebated for a diagnostic
assessment requested by an ENT or neurologist is less than if the ENT or neurologist claim for
those same procedures under their own provider numbers. A GP cannot refer to an audiologist
other than through a Chronic Disease Management programme, which is not diagnostic. There
are some instances where children with PDD or ATSI populations have some additional cover
under Medicare, but the suggestion that a GP or any healthcare practitioner can just refer to an
audiologist is incorrect – even though we wish it were the case.”
NSW Hunter region to host 2022 Australian Deaf Games

Touch footballer Peta Ware expects a bumper turnout from Hunter athletes when Newcastle hosts
the Australian Deaf Games in 2022.

Newcastle and Lake Macquarie councils recently announced that they had secured the rights to
host the event after lodging a joint bid.

The games, which are held every four years, will draw more than 1000 athletes from across
Australia and the Pacific.

The competitive program will include futsal, basketball, touch, beach volleyball, golf, athletics,
swimming, darts, cricket, tennis and a range of other sports. The opening and closing ceremonies
will be at No.2 Sportsground.

“It’s good to have an opportunity where it’s close to home,” Ms Ware, who works for Lake
Macquarie City Council, said.

“I know there’s a lot of people in the community that don’t have the money to travel to the events
we’ve had in the past, so it will be good to have something close to home that’s accessible for
them to get to.

“I’d like to tell people to get amongst it, get involved. If you’re deaf or hard of hearing, get in
contact with the Australian Deaf Games and they’ll be able to give you a contact.”

From the Lakes Mail, https://www.lakesmail.com.au/story/5521492/hunter-to-host-2022-australian-deaf-games/

'I might go deaf but I'm not worried': Victorian family
proves that going deaf is nothing to fear
ABC Western Vic by Jane Gould

Nia Harrison was born into a family where being deaf was nothing out of the ordinary — her
mother, aunt and grandmother are all deaf, as is her best friend Cate.

There is a chance that Nia will go deaf too, due to a hereditary condition that causes hearing loss
later in life — but thanks to her deaf role models, the idea does not worry her.

"I've been lucky enough to grow up with successful, strong, deaf women all around me," she said.
"I am not deaf — but my mum is. And my aunty, and my grandma.

Nia's mother, Buffy Harrison, is a shining example of deafness opening doors, rather than closing
them. She is the conductor of the Horsham Primary School Signing Choir, which performs songs
from Billy Joel to Louis Armstrong, all using the sign language of Australia's deaf community,
Auslan. Unlike a regular choir, it is not voices that steal the show, but the dancing hands of the
performers.

Photo: Nia and Cate (centre) with members of the choir led by Nia's mum Buffy, at rehearsal at
Horsham Primary School. (ABC Western Victoria: Emily Bissland)

Their faces also morph to match the words and emotion of the music as dexterously as their
hands.
"There's something about hearing and seeing the song that makes you emotional," Nia said.
"The choir has been great in increasing hearing peoples' understanding of deafness," Nia said.

Nia said that if Auslan was offered in more schools around the country would be a huge win for
both the deaf and hearing communities.

"Teaching it from a young age would improve nation-wide knowledge and understanding about
deafness and Auslan as a language itself," Nia said.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-21/going-deaf-is-nothing-to-fear-in-this-regional-victorian-family/10017998

Accessible Archibald Prize finalists’ stories

Conexu has made the 2018 Archibald Prize Finalists stories accessible in captions and in sign
language.

You can access the exhibition on the Art Gallery of NSW's website,
https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/prizes/archibald/2018/.

Conexu's OpenAccess Tours app also has the 2018 Archibald Prize exhibition available on any iOS
or Android phone or tablet - you can choose either Auslan or Captions. The App is free and you
can see the stories anytime and anywhere. Check out www.openaccesstours.com.au

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