{"id":76277,"date":"2014-07-28T23:28:09","date_gmt":"2014-07-28T13:28:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=76277"},"modified":"2020-11-27T15:29:46","modified_gmt":"2020-11-27T05:29:46","slug":"deadly-ears-nears-milestone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2014\/07\/28\/deadly-ears-nears-milestone\/","title":{"rendered":"Deadly Ears Nears Milestone"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Cecil<\/a>
Cecil “Pickle” Brown and his Health-E-Piccaninny van have become a familiar sight at 29 schools around the South Burnett over the last five years (Photo: DDHHS)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

July 28, 2014<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cecil “Pickle” Brown marvels at what children place in their tiny ears.<\/p>\n

He even has a photo album of sorts with the images of ear canals to prove it.<\/p>\n

“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\u2019s ear,” Cecil said.<\/p>\n

Cecil, a senior health worker at Cherbourg Community Health, is a well-known identity across the South Burnett.<\/p>\n

For the past five years, he’s co-ordinated the local chapter of the state-wide Deadly Ears initiative.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Then once every six months, Dr Perry and his team of clinicians visit Cherbourg Hospital to treat the patients locally.<\/p>\n

“A team of 18 people come from Brisbane for two days of consultations and to perform surgeries,” Cecil said.<\/p>\n

“A ward in the hospital is converted into an operating theatre.<\/p>\n

“Without the Deadly Ears program there would be a number of children who would have hearing problems in our community.<\/p>\n

“Hearing problems can affect a child\u2019s learning and delay their speech development.”<\/p>\n

The program is two-children shy of reaching 2500 participants.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a milestone Cecil is proud to have been associated in reaching.<\/p>\n

“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.<\/p>\n

“I remember in 2009 we had a three-year-old come to us with a few issues caused by hearing loss.<\/p>\n

“Now that patient is in year three and we have fixed up all of their problems.”<\/p>\n

Twenty-nine schools across the South Burnett host Mr Brown and his Health-E-Piccanniny van each year.<\/p>\n

Currently there are 1489 children who receive free annual hearing check-ups.<\/p>\n

What is the Deadly Ears Program?<\/strong><\/p>\n