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Little ears - Aboriginal programmes for hearing and EAR screening (LEAP - HEAR): a research protocol for co-design
Kiri Mealings1, Luke Halvorsen2, Kai Nash2
1HEAR Centre, Department of Linguistics, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia kiri.mealings@mq.edu.au.
BMJ Open
|November 27, 2025
Summary
Coordinating ear and hearing screening programs for Indigenous children in Australia is crucial. This study aims to improve these programs by understanding current practices, strengthening them, and identifying barriers to national scaling for better child ear health.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Indigenous Health
- Healthcare Systems
Background:
- Indigenous children face higher rates of middle ear disease compared to non-Indigenous children.
- Current ear and hearing screening initiatives in Australia are siloed, leading to inefficiencies.
- Lack of coordination hinders the development of a cost-effective and navigable care system.
Purpose of the Study:
- To understand and evaluate current ear and hearing screening programs in three New South Wales communities.
- To strengthen, implement, and evaluate improved ear and hearing screening programs.
- To identify barriers and facilitators for the national scaling of enhanced ear and hearing screening programs.
Main Methods:
- Desktop searches and co-design workshops to map current screening practices.
- Implementation and evaluation of strengthened screening programs using established models and guidance.
- Stakeholder workshops to identify factors influencing national scalability.
Main Results:
- Analysis of current program strengths and limitations in selected communities.
- Development and initial evaluation of strengthened ear and hearing screening protocols.
- Identification of key barriers and facilitators for program scale-up.
Conclusions:
- A coordinated approach is essential for effective ear and hearing care for Indigenous children.
- Strengthening existing programs and addressing identified barriers can improve national ear health outcomes.
- Findings will inform the co-production of an enhanced system for Indigenous child ear and hearing care.
