New equipment gives sound advice
WA children most at risk of hearing damage and disease will benefit from a new mobile audiology vehicle that is the first of its kind in Australia.
The 5.79-tonne four-wheel-drive can travel off-road, giving families in remote parts of the State access to diagnostic hearing tests for babies and children.
The Mobile Advanced Paediatric Audiology Remote car is sponsored by Chevron and will be operated in partnership with Telethon Speech and Hearing.
The vehicle is fitted with a mobile audiology booth, which Telethon Speech and Hearing chief executive Peta Monley said would provide life-changing services to children in the Pilbara and regional WA. "Without early diagnosis, the widely prominent otitis media (middle-ear disease) can cause life-long hearing loss and learning and development hardships," she said.
Health Minister Kim Hames said the WA Country Health Service was working with Telethon Speech and Hearing to develop a best practice model of ear health care for the Pilbara.
"The focus is on community education and services to help prevent middle-ear disease and improve school readiness for young children," he said.
