Children’s verbal and listening performance is the basis for judgements about many things, for example, their intelligence, their capacity for learning, their social skills and their personality.

Children learn early the consequences of not understanding, of misunderstanding, and of being slower than others in their ability to process what is said.

They get things wrong, appear stupid, and are all too readily shamed and teased by others.

The challenges they face are usually invisible to their teachers and peers. Others may not realise that situations, where they themselves feel quite comfortable, may be highly stressful for someone with listening problems.

Dr Damien Howard

Media Resources

In this section of the website you will find resources about hearing loss.

In the Video section Dr Damien Howard interviewed two people who experienced hearing problems as children. They reflect on their childhood experiences and how hearing loss has affected them as adults.

In the Audio section you can hear the podcasts that were produced by Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education (BIITE) media students. Participating in this initiative provided an opportunity for the students to talk about their own listening problems.

In the Radio Scripts section you will find 10 radio scripts that give radio programmers and announcers some ideas for engaging their listeners and for involving people who understand hearing loss issues among Aboriginal people.

In the section Children's book about hearing you'll find a story that tells the tale of Dana the dinosaur, Kane the kangaroo, Allie the alligator and Paddy the penguin who have their hearing tests at school. Written by Rachel Saywell and illustrated by her son Tymunna Clements-Saywell.