Associate Professor Chris Brennan-Jones

Goroka Otitis Media Study: Prevalence and associated risk factors of otitis media in children attending urban clinics in Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea

Otitis media (OM, middle ear infections) and the consequent hearing loss are major concerns for Aboriginal people and OM can seriously impact on children’s learning potential which in turn will impact on life as an adult.

Healthy Ears Clinical Trial: A telehealth-facilitated randomised-controlled trial utilising a health promotion intervention to resolve otitis media with effusion for children won specialist Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) waiting lists

A telehealth-facilitated randomised-controlled trial utilising a health promotion intervention to resolve otitis media with effusion for children won specialist Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) waiting lists

Djaalinj Waakinj Ear Portal: An ENT and Audiology referral pathway for improving access to ear and hearing services for Aboriginal children in the metropolitan area using telehealth

The Djaalinj Waakinj (Listening, Talking) Ear Portal project commenced in 2020 to evaluate an equitable ear and hearing care pathway for Aboriginal children residing in the metropolitan area of Perth.

Raine Study - Senses Special Interest Group

ATOMIC Ears: A Phase IIB randomised controlled trial to assess safety, tolerability and acceptability of a 5-day Dornase alfa treatment as an adjunct therapy to ventilation tube insertion for otitis media in children

TALK (Testosterone and Language in Kids) Study

Ear Explorers: A ‘real-life research project’ enabling children to view inside their own ears using smartphone video-otoscopy

Djaalinj Waakinj: A cohort study of otitis media in young urban Aboriginal children – prevalence, risk factors and consequences

Ear Portal: An ENT and Audiology referral portal for improving access to ear health services for children using telehealth

Cochrane CSOM: A suite of reviews examining the effectiveness of interventions to treat chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) globally

Dornase alfa as an adjunct therapy to treat chronic ear infections

Risk of otitis media in offspring following maternal prenatal stress exposure

There is limited but consistent evidence that suggests prenatal factors, including maternal stress, may contribute to susceptibility for otitis media. We aimed to determine the effect of multiple life stress events during pregnancy on risk of acute and recurrent otitis media in offspring at three and five years of age. 

Chronic suppurative otitis media

Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is a leading global cause of potentially preventable hearing loss in children and adults, associated with socioeconomic deprivation. There is an absence of consensus on the definition of CSOM, which complicates efforts for prevention, treatment, and monitoring.

A hospital-based asynchronous ENT telehealth service for children with otitis media: Cost-minimisation and improved access

The purpose of this study is to explore the effectiveness of a hospital-based asynchronous ear, nose, and throat telehealth service (the Ear Portal) in reducing cost and improving access for children with otitis media.

Remote paediatric ear examination comparing video-otoscopy and still otoscopy clinician rated outcomes

Telemedicine, particularly real time video-otoscopy in rural and remote Australia holds great potential in assessing and managing otology conditions. There is good evidence of store and forward images for assessment, however limited evidence exists for the use of real-time video-otoscopy. The objective of this study was to assess the validity of using real time video-otoscopy, compared to standard store and forward still image otoscopy, in a paediatric population.

Antibiotics or watchful waiting for acute otitis media in urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children?

Safety, tolerability, and effect of a single aural dose of Dornase alfa at the time of ventilation tube surgery for otitis media: A Phase 1b double randomized control trial

One third of children require repeat ventilation tube insertion (VTI) for otitis media. Disease recurrence is associated with persistent middle ear bacterial biofilms. With demonstration that Dornase alfa (a DNase) disrupts middle ear effusion biofilms ex vivo, we identified potential for this as an anti-biofilm therapy to prevent repeat VTI. First, safety and tolerability needed to be measured.

The Impact of Waiting Times on Behavioral Outcomes for Children with Otitis Media: Results from an Urban Ear, Nose, and Throat Telehealth Service

Children with otitis media (OM) experience long waiting times to access Australia's public hospitals due to limited capacity. The aim of this article is to utilize an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) telehealth service (the Ear Portal) to examine whether delayed access to specialist care is associated with poorer behavioral outcomes for children with OM.

Recurrent otitis media and behaviour problems in middle childhood: A longitudinal cohort study

To investigate the long-term effects of early-life recurrent otitis media (OM) and subsequent behavioural problems in children at the age of 10 years.

Impact of ventilation tube insertion on long-term language outcomes at 6 and 10 years of age: A prospective pregnancy cohort study

Investigating the impact of early childhood ventilation tube insertion (VTI) on long-term language outcomes. 

ISOM 2023 research Panel 4 - Diagnostics and microbiology of otitis media

To identify and review key research advances from the literature published between 2019 and 2023 on the diagnosis and microbiology of otitis media (OM) including acute otitis media (AOM), recurrent AOM (rAOM), otitis media with effusion (OME), chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) and AOM complications (mastoiditis). 

Do parent-reported early indicators predict later developmental language disorder? A Raine Study investigation

Developmental language disorder (DLD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental conditions. Due to variable rates of language growth in children under 5 years, the early identification of children with DLD is challenging. Early indicators are often outlined by speech pathology regulatory bodies and other developmental services as evidence to empower caregivers in the early identification of DLD.

Ear and hearing outcomes in Aboriginal infants living in an urban Australian area: the Djaalinj Waakinj birth cohort study

Describe the ear and hearing outcomes in Aboriginal infants in an Australian urban area. Aboriginal infants enrolled in the Djaalinj Waakinj prospective cohort study had ear health screenings at ages 2-4, 6-8 and 12-18 months and audiological assessment at ∼12 months of age. Sociodemographic, environmental characteristics, otoscopy, otoacoustic emissions, tympanometry and visual reinforcement audiometry data were collected.

The Impact of Early-Life Recurrent Otitis Media in Children on the Psychological Well-Being of Caregivers

Children with early-life recurrent otitis media (OM) will often endure pain, sleep disturbances, and other developmental setbacks that impact the surrounding family system. The aim of this study was to investigate the psychological well-being and family functioning of caregivers of children with early-life recurrent OM (rOM).

The association between otitis media in early childhood with later behaviour and attention problems: A longitudinal pregnancy cohort

The present study aims to investigate the association between an early history of recurrent otitis media (OM) with or without ventilation tube insertion and later behavioural problems in childhood and adolescence.

Ear Portal: An urban-based ear, nose, and throat, and audiology referral telehealth portal to improve access to specialist ear-health services for children

Shortage of ear, nose, and throat specialists in public hospitals can result in delays in the detection and management of otitis media. This study introduced a new hospital-based telehealth service, named the Ear Portal, and investigated its role in improving access to specialist care.

How we measure language skills of children at scale: A call to move beyond domain-specific tests as a proxy for language

The aim of this research note is to encourage child language researchers and clinicians to give careful consideration to the use of domain-specific tests as a proxy for language; particularly in the context of large-scale studies and for the identification of language disorder in clinical practice.

Early onset of otitis media is a strong predictor of subsequent disease in urban Aboriginal infants: Djaalinj Waakinj cohort study

Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children in rural/remote areas suffer high rates of persistent otitis media (OM) from early infancy. We aimed to determine the proportion of Aboriginal infants living in an urban area who have OM and investigate associated risk factors.

The use of patient-report measures and intervention strategies for children and adolescents with chronic tinnitus: a scoping review

Chronic tinnitus during childhood/adolescence can be associated with impaired quality of life. Guidelines for managing paediatric tinnitus recommend assessment and interventions are often based upon the experiences and opinions of guideline committee members.

Long-term follow-up after recurrent otitis media and ventilation tube insertion: Hearing outcomes and middle-ear health at six years of age

To investigate the long-term impact of recurrent otitis media (rOM) and ventilation tube insertion (VTI) in early childhood on hearing outcomes and middle-ear health three to five years later, in a prospective pregnancy cohort study.

Supporting the Social-Emotional Well-Being of Elementary School Students Who Are Deaf and Hard of Hearing: A Pilot Study

Children who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing, their parents, Teachers of the Deaf, and other community stakeholders were involved in co-designing a web-based resource to support students' social-emotional well-being.

The prevalence of and potential risk factors for Developmental Language Disorder at 10 years in the Raine Study

This study sought to determine the prevalence of Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) in Australian school-aged children and associated potential risk factors for DLD at 10 years.

High prevalence of hearing loss in urban Aboriginal infants: the Djaalinj Waakinj cohort study

Whole-cell pertussis vaccine in early infancy for the prevention of allergy in children

Atopic diseases are the most common chronic conditions of childhood. The apparent rise in food anaphylaxis in young children over the past three decades is of particular concern, owing to the lack of proven prevention strategies other than the timely introduction of peanut and egg.

Children with secondary care episodes for otitis media have poor literacy and numeracy outcomes: A data linkage study

We examined the association between otitis media and educational attainment in a retrospective population cohort of Western Australian children who participated in the Grade 3 National Assessment Program—Literacy and Numeracy in 2012.

The reliability of video otoscopy recordings and still images in the asynchronous diagnosis of middle-ear disease

To compare the asynchronous assessment of video otoscopic still images to recordings by an audiologist and ear, nose and throat surgeon (ENT) for diagnostic reliability and agreement in identifying middle-ear disease.

Reflections on How Tinnitus Impacts the Lives of Children and Adolescents

The aim of this study was to generate a conceptual framework describing which aspects of children and adolescents' lives are affected by chronic tinnitus.

Early detection of hearing loss for infants in Western Australia: Comparison to international benchmarks

To assess the degree to which timely audiological assessment of congenital hearing loss is achieved at our institution - Perth Children's Hospital, Western Australia, and to review cases which breached this timeframe in order to address barriers to timely assessment. The benchmark used to determine timely assessment is that set out by The Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (JCIH) in which diagnostic audiological testing occurs by three months of age for those who do not pass newborn hearing screening.

Whole‐cell pertussis vaccine in early infancy for the prevention of allergy in children

Atopic diseases are the most common chronic conditions of childhood. The apparent rise in food anaphylaxis in young children over the past three decades is of particular concern, owing to the lack of proven prevention strategies other than the timely introduction of peanut and egg.

Reducing the Impact of Tinnitus on Children and Adolescents' Lives: A Mixed-Methods Concept Mapping Study

To generate a conceptual framework describing what is done to reduce the impact of chronic tinnitus on the lives of children and adolescents.

Djaalinj Waakinj (listening talking): Rationale, cultural governance, methods, population characteristics–an urban Aboriginal birth cohort study of otitis media

The majority of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (hereafter referred to as “Aboriginal”) people live in urban centres. Otitis media (OM) occurs at a younger age, prevalence is higher and hearing loss and other serious complications are more common in Aboriginal than non-Aboriginal children. Despite this, data on the burden of OM and hearing loss in urban Aboriginal children are limited.

Validation of teleaudiology hearing aid rehabilitation services for adults: a systematic review of outcome measurement tools

A search strategy was developed to identify tools used to evaluate standard and teleaudiology hearing aid rehabilitation services for adults. A seven-domain hearing-health-care service model for validation was defined and used to analyse the applicability and suitability of patient- and service-centred tools. This model and the applicability and suitability criteria were based on the literature, the International Classification of Functioning (ICF) framework, and gold standard professional practice guidelines, which together formed the validation framework used in this study.

Otitis media guidelines for Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children: summary of recommendations

The 2001 Recommendations for clinical care guidelines on the management of otitis media in Aboriginal and Torres Islander populations were revised in 2010. This 2020 update by the Centre of Research Excellence in Ear and Hearing Health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children used for the first time the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.

Clinician-rated quality of video otoscopy recordings and still images for the asynchronous assessment of middle-ear disease

Video otoscopy plays an important role in improving access to ear health services. This study investigated the clinician-rated quality of video otoscopy recordings and still images, and compared their suitability for asynchronous diagnosis of middle-ear disease. Two hundred and eighty video otoscopy image-recording pairs were collected from 150 children (aged six months to 15 years) by an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist, audiologists, and trained research assistants, and independently rated by an audiologist and ENT surgeon.

Topical versus systemic antibiotics for chronic suppurative otitis media

Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM), sometimes referred to as chronic otitis media (COM), is a chronic inflammation and often polymicrobial infection (involving more than one micro-organism) of the middle ear and mastoid cavity, characterised by ear discharge (otorrhoea) through a perforated tympanic membrane. The predominant symptoms of CSOM are ear discharge and hearing loss. Antibiotics are the most common treatment for CSOM, which act to kill or inhibit the growth of micro-organisms that may be responsible for the infection.

Aural toilet (ear cleaning) for chronic suppurative otitis media

Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM), sometimes referred to as chronic otitis media (COM), is a chronic inflammation and often polymicrobial infection (involving more than one micro-organism) of the middle ear and mastoid cavity, characterised by ear discharge (otorrhoea) through a perforated tympanic membrane.

Reflections and perceptions of chronic tinnitus during childhood

Reflections and perceptions of chronic tinnitus during childhood

Whole-cell pertussis vaccine in early infancy for the prevention of allergy

This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives were to assess the efficacy and safety of whole‐cell pertussis (wP) vaccinations in comparison to acellular pertussis (aP) vaccinations in early infancy for the prevention of atopic diseases in children.

Chronic health conditions, mental health and the school: A narrative review

School-based social risk processes in the lives of young people with chronic health conditions are likely to contribute to risk of psychological problems

Cochrane corner: Sound therapy (using amplification devices and/or sound generators) for tinnitus

This Cochrane review shows that both hearing aids and sound generators may be beneficial for reducing tinnitus severity in some patients

Hearing aid review appointment: clients’ reasons for attendance and non-attendance

Appointment attendance is influenced by some factors modifiable by the clinician, including providing better education

Antibiotics versus topical antiseptics for chronic suppurative otitis media

Treatment of chronic suppurative otitis media with topical antibiotics probably results in an increase in resolution of ear discharge compared with boric acid

Topical antiseptics for chronic suppurative otitis media

The effectiveness and safety profile of antiseptics in the treatment of chronic suppurative otitis media is uncertain

Topical antibiotics for chronic suppurative otitis media

We are uncertain about the effectiveness of topical antibiotics in improving resolution of ear discharge in patients with chronic suppurative otitis media

Cochrane corner: interventions to prevent hearing loss caused by noise at work

The aim of this Cochrane Review was to find out if hearing loss caused by noise at work is being prevented by current interventions

A Qualitative Exploration of the Role and Needs of Classroom Teachers in Supporting the Mental Health and Well-Being of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children

This study aimed to explore the role of schools and classroom teachers in supporting the mental health and well-being of deaf and hard of hearing children

Cochrane corner: platinum-induced hearing loss after treatment for childhood cancer

This systematic review shows that children treated with platinum analogues are at risk of developing hearing loss

Does otitis media in early childhood affect later behavioural development? Results from the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study

The relationship between early life episodes of otitis media and later behavioural development with adjustment for confounders.

Teleaudiology services for rehabilitation with hearing aids in adults: A systematic review

This review provides up-to-date evidence for teleaudiology hearing aid services in new and experienced hearing aid users in different practice settings

Cochrane corner: hearing aids for mild to moderate hearing loss in adults

The evidence supports the widespread provision of hearing aids as the first-line clinical management for those seeking help for hearing difficulties

Topical antiseptics for chronic suppurative otitis media

To assess the effects of topical antiseptics for people with chronic suppurative otitis media

Antibiotics versus topical antiseptics for chronic suppurative otitis media

To assess the effectiveness of antibiotics versus antiseptics for people with chronic suppurative otitis media.

Aural toilet (ear cleaning) for chronic suppurative otitis media

To assess the effects of aural toilet procedures for people with chronic suppurative otitis media

Topical antibiotics with steroids for chronic suppurative otitis media

To assess the effects of adding a topical steroid to topical antibiotics in the treatment of people with chronic suppurative otitis media

Topical antibiotics for chronic suppurative otitis media

To assess the effects of topical antibiotics for people with chronic suppurative otitis media.

Systemic antibiotics for chronic suppurative otitis media

To assess the effects of systemic antibiotics for people with chronic suppurative otitis media.

Topical versus systemic antibiotics for chronic suppurative otitis media

To assess the relative effectiveness of topical versus systemic antibiotics for people with chronic suppurative otitis media

Associations between cardiovascular disease and its risk factors with hearing loss—A cross-sectional analysis

We investigate the relationship between hearing loss and cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Telehealth for Diagnosis of Hearing Loss

Telehealth offers unique opportunities for providing access to hearing healthcare ser- vices to underserved populations

Telehealth for Audiological Management

This chapter focuses on the management of those with hearing impairment, and how tele-audiological tools and approaches may assist to improve service delivery

Cochrane Corner: interventions to improve hearing aid use in adult auditory rehabilitation

This "Cochrane Corner" will be a recurring feature in the journal that highlights systematic reviews relevant to audiology, with invited commentary to aid clinical decision making.

Mental health problems among 4–17-year-olds with hearing problems: results from a nationally representative study

Clinicians caring for children and young people with hearing problems should be alert for heightened risk of specific mental health problems based on age and the nature of hearing problems.

Protective benefit of predominant breastfeeding against otitis media may be limited to early childhood: results from a prospective birth cohort study

Our findings are in line with a number of epidemiological studies which show a positive association between breastfeeding and OM in early childhood

Prevalence and risk factors for parent-reported recurrent otitis media during early childhood

The prevalence of parent-reported rOM was 26.8% (611/2280) and 5.5% (125/2280) for severe rOM in the Study.

Prevalence and risk factors for parent-reported recurrent otitis media during early childhood

The objective was to describe the prevalence and risk factors of recurrent otitis media (rOM) in an urban Australian population at 3 years of age.