July 28, 2014
Cecil “Pickle” Brown marvels at what children place in their tiny ears.
He even has a photo album of sorts with the images of ear canals to prove it.
“I’ve seen bean bag balls, grass seeds, carpet fibres, foam, rubber erasers, small insects … things you ordinarily wouldn’t think could end up in a child’s ear,” Cecil said.
Cecil, a senior health worker at Cherbourg Community Health, is a well-known identity across the South Burnett.
For the past five years, he’s co-ordinated the local chapter of the state-wide Deadly Ears initiative.
Known locally as the Health-E-Piccaninny program, Mr Brown travels from school to school in his mobile van conducting hearing tests and screening children for a range of ear complaints.
The images and results of the tests are electronically sent to Brisbane-based Ear, Nose and Throat surgeon Dr Christopher Perry who reviews each of the cases to determine if follow-up appointments are required.
Then once every six months, Dr Perry and his team of clinicians visit Cherbourg Hospital to treat the patients locally.
“A team of 18 people come from Brisbane for two days of consultations and to perform surgeries,” Cecil said.
“A ward in the hospital is converted into an operating theatre.
“Without the Deadly Ears program there would be a number of children who would have hearing problems in our community.
“Hearing problems can affect a child’s learning and delay their speech development.”
The program is two-children shy of reaching 2500 participants.
It’s a milestone Cecil is proud to have been associated in reaching.
“It is a great program to be a part of. It is rewarding because you get to the see the differences it makes to these young kids and their families,” he said.
“I remember in 2009 we had a three-year-old come to us with a few issues caused by hearing loss.
“Now that patient is in year three and we have fixed up all of their problems.”
Twenty-nine schools across the South Burnett host Mr Brown and his Health-E-Piccanniny van each year.
Currently there are 1489 children who receive free annual hearing check-ups.
What is the Deadly Ears Program?
- The Deadly Ears Program is a state-wide program that aims to reduce the high rates of conductive hearing loss attributable to otitis media (ear disease) in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
- Program facilitators work closely with elders, families, councils, local health centres, schools and community organisations within 12 partner rural and remote communities.
