Undetected hearing loss can significantly impact a student’s ability to learn. Since 2018, the government funded Sound Scouts Hearing Check app has been used to test the hearing of over 81,000+ students in almost one third of Australian primary schools.

The impact of discovering and subsequently supporting a student’s hearing loss is life changing, not only for the student, but also their family, the classroom teacher and in some cases, the entire class. A recent survey of Sound Scouts users generated countless testimonials of students being labelled with behavioural, learning and speech issues when, in fact, they simply couldn’t hear.

 ‘Both students, one in Year 3 and one in Year 6, who received a Sound Scouts fail result, had been identified as having behavioural concerns at their previous schools. The teachers at our school who put them forward for the hearing test believed it was something different and this was proved as they were both fitted with hearing aids. Once fitted, these students both felt that people finally understood them, and didn't believe that they weren't listening on purpose or to be naughty.’ Learning Services Teacher, Combined Catholic School, QLD Metro

Recently published research tells us that approx one in 10 disadvantaged Australian school children may suffer from hearing loss^[1]  Most parents don’t consider hearing as something that needs to be checked and the majority of children starting school won’t have had their hearing checked since birth. Hearing can be affected in many ways during the period between birth and school: through viruses, persistent middle ear infections, trauma and genetic disorders.

Sound Scouts recommends that all children starting school should have their hearing checked, regardless of their circumstances. Further testing should occur in Year 4 / 5 as the students start their transition to high school. The Sound Scouts Hearing Check app is:

• Free of charge (funded by the Dept of Health)
• Clinically proven & endorsed by Hearing Australia
• Easy and engaging to use
• includes 3 games with testing completed in 7 - 10 minutes
• provides an indication of a child's hearing health & listening abilities, both in quiet and noise
• Delivers immediate results with clear next steps if a hearing loss is indicated

All that is required is a tablet (or touchscreen device), good quality adult headphones (such as the Sennheiser HD300) and a quiet space. The app can be downloaded from Google Play, the App Store and Microsoft Store.

Sound Scouts provides free training, resources and support for schools to implement an easy screening program for students.

Sound Scouts can be contacted on 1300 424 122 or team@soundscouts.com.au

Soundscouts.com.au

^[1] Published 2 December 2021. https://doi.org/10.17061/phrp3152130

Citation: McMahon CM, McLennan J, Orr NJ, Nash K, Nakad P. Risk factors for Australian school-age children in socio-economically disadvantaged populations not passing ear and hearing screening. Public Health Res Pract. 2021;31(5):e3152130.