New life for Warburton children
Six Aboriginal children from the remote Warburton community have undergone life-changing surgery which will revolutionise their world.
The children had their perforated eardrums, caused by chronic infections, reconstructed at Kalgoorlie Hospital yesterday.
The unprecedented surgeries, which were all performed in one day, will enable the children to interact with their teachers and friends in school and with their families at home. Ear, nose and throat surgeon Francis Lannigan said the infections were "very common in Aboriginal children".
Dr Lannigan said the high level of infection was mainly caused by socio- economic factors.
"It reaches levels of up to 70 per cent in some of the communities," he said.
"Overcrowding, nutritional issues, hygiene issues are secondary to the overcrowding.
"They get very early ear infections usually within the first six weeks of life." Dr Lannigan said the consequences of poor hearing could hinder children throughout their childhood and beyond.
"It can affect language development so they can't hear properly so they have speech delay," he said.
"When they go to school they can't hear in the classroom so they don't really have a positive classroom experience the way other children have, which leads to frustration.
"(This) later leads to truancy, and that has major social issues and often leads to a direction to the criminal justice system."
Ngaanyatjarra Health Service child health nurse Angela Bolstad said the operation would greatly improve the children's lives.
"They'll be able to hear, they'll be able focus in class," she said.
Ms Bolstad was hopeful similar initiatives could be held in the future to help more children from Warburton improve their hearing.
The successful surgeries were the result of a co-ordinated multi-agency effort, which included sourcing a 12-seater chartered flight.
Dr Lannigan said it had been a fantastic team effort by everyone involved.
"I don't know of anywhere else in WA that has put through six eardrum reconstructions in one day," he said.
"This has been a terrific opportunity, it is a privilege to be involved in this type of work with such a great team.
"I hope we can do it again."
WA Country Health Service Goldfields regional director Geraldine Ennis congratulated everyone who helped make the operation successful.
