Australia is a world leader in early detection and intervention for hearing loss, with more than 97 percent of newborn babies in Australia undergoing hearing screening and a highly developed and coordinated approach to follow-up care. And by sharing the knowledge and experience we have gained, we have opened the doors to new opportunities and connections with neighbours like China.

Australia’s collaboration with China in hearing health dates back to 1995 when a first group of Chinese ENT surgeons and other health service providers visited universities—including Macquarie University—to learn about audiology. They brought that knowledge back to China, establishing the first audiology degree there in collaboration with Macquarie University. Training has since expanded exponentially, with more than 20 universities now offering audiology degrees in China, and there has been a nationwide rollout of newborn hearing screening.

Last year marked another big milestone in this collaboration. Professor Greg Leigh, Director of NextSense Institute, and Professor Catherine McMahon, Head of the Department of Linguistics at Macquarie University, led a delegation that travelled to China as members of the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Expert Working Group. There, they shared their expertise with their Chinese counterparts at hospitals, clinical centres, universities, and research institutes in Chinese cities including Chengdu, Shanghai, and Beijing.

The Working Group is a collaboration of the Australian Hearing Hub, the Australasian Newborn Hearing Screening Committee, and Macquarie University, which received a grant from the National Foundation of Australia-China Relations to facilitate the visit to China. The Foundation is an initiative of the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and works closely with government, business, and communities to collaborate with China.

Along with Greg and Trudy Smith, our Manager of Continuing Professional Education, the travelling delegation included experts from Macquarie University, Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Queensland Health, Hearing Australia, Aussie Deaf Kids, The Shepherd Centre, and Cochlear Limited.

Professor Han Demin from the WHO Collaborative Centre, a pioneer of audiology in China, says the knowledge-sharing between the two countries will ‘provide better hearing rehabilitation means for the development of the whole world… and enable more hearing-impaired people to enjoy hearing care.’

In the above video from the National Foundation of Australia-China Relations, Greg shares his perspectives on the impact of universal newborn hearing screening and intervention, and how far both nations have come.

For our client, nine-year-old Sofia, and her Mum Michelle, who also feature in the video, early detection, and support from speech pathologists like Sharon Hurt has made such a difference to their lives.

Sofia’s hearing loss was detected through the newborn hearing screening program. She has two cochlear implants and has received early intervention support from NextSense since she was a baby.

‘We’re so lucky in Australia to have the support of the government and the support of charities like NextSense who can actually step in and just go, ‘It’s okay, we’ve got your back,’ Michelle says.

Sharon has been working with Sofia since she was six months old and has enjoyed watching her progress over the years. ‘I just recently—last week—did her nine years of age speech and language assessment and she’s coming out within the average range compared to children who have typically normal hearing,’ says Sharon. You can read more about Sofia’s story here.

Professor Catherine McMahon, clinical Audiologist and Head of the Department of Linguistics at Macquarie University, reinforces the importance of support for children everywhere, and the motivation that sits beneath such international collaborations.

‘Every child, no matter where they’re born, should be able to access really high-quality support to ensure that hearing loss is no longer a barrier,’ she says.