Glue Ear in First Nations Children: Closing the Hearing Gap

Exploring prevalence, risks, and evidence-based strategies for culturally safe nursing care.

Glue ear, or otitis media with effusion, is the most common cause of hearing loss in children worldwide, and First Nations' children bear the heaviest burden. This session unpacks the impact of glue ear on speech, learning, and cultural connection. It explores how nurses can play a vital role in early recognition, culturally safe care, and closing the audiology gap.
CPD HOURS: 1
 Registration Year 2025/2026

Course Content

This article explores otitis media with effusion (OME), commonly known as glue ear, and its significant impact on children worldwide, especially among First Nations populations.

It also highlights that glue ear is not just a medical condition but a public health and equity issue. For First Nations' children, addressing OME requires combining medical treatment with action on the social determinants of health, cultural safety, and improved access to specialist care.

While progress is being made, the hearing gap between First Nations and non-Indigenous children remains significant, demanding ongoing research, innovation, and commitment at local, national, and global levels.
This synopsis is my interpretation of Ludbrook et al. (2025) and is not a direct reproduction of the article.

Why this Session may be Relevant to your Work

This knowledge is relevant to my work as a nurse because glue ear is a leading cause of childhood hearing loss, and early recognition, culturally safe care, and timely referral can prevent long-term impacts on a child’s speech, education, and social wellbeing — particularly for First Nations' children who experience the highest global burden.

Learning Outcomes

In this session, you will:
  • Explain the prevalence and health impacts of otitis media with effusion (glue ear) in children, particularly during critical periods of speech and language development.
  • Identify the risk factors and social determinants of health that contribute to higher rates of middle ear disease among First Nations' children and other Indigenous populations globally.
  • Describe best practice approaches to diagnosing and managing glue ear, including observation, medical and surgical options, and the role of audiology and speech pathology services.
  • Discuss culturally safe and innovative strategies (such as community-led care, AI tools, and outreach services) aimed at reducing the audiology gap and improving outcomes for First Nations' children.

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Sue Walker

RN, BN, BN (ADMIN), MPHC, MACN
Sue is the director and co-founder of the Nurses for Nurses Network. Sue is a key contributor to the online education platform Nursing CPD – a Continuing Professional Development platform to assist Nurses in meeting their annual CPD requirements.
As a Registered Nurse, Sue holds Degrees in both Nursing and Health Administration, a Master’s Degree in Public Health, and more...