Ear problems can go undetected but a mobile service in Rotorua has been ensuring early intervention for hundreds of children.
The Lakes District Health Board mobile ear clinic offers free checks for children through their schools, diagnosing, referring and monitoring children with ear problems.
The essential service
is currently the focus of a major fundraising campaign by Te Whakapono Health Trust so a new custom-built mobile clinic can be purchased. The current van has been in use since 1993 and $150,000 is needed for a new one.
Data from last year were not available but in 2006 the ear clinic saw 1095 children, according to health board figures. Some attended more than once and it was the first visit to the clinic for 648 children.
Ninety of the children seen in 2006 were referred to a GP and 98 were referred to a specialist.
Community ear nurse Eunice Redmayne said hearing problems impacted on children's ability to learn and glue ear in particular was a hidden problem in a lot of children.
"Parents don't know it's a problem. They think [the children] are ignoring them or not listening but they are actually not hearing."
Mrs Redmayne said glue ear could be described as like being under water. "You can hear but things are muffled."
The mobile ear clinic operates during school terms and nurses also provide education for parents about problems their children might encounter.
"I would much rather see the child with the caregiver as a lot of the work I do is educational but I can also give them referrals as well."
Te Whakapono Health Trust chief executive Tayna Morrison said $108,000 had been raised so far for the new mobile ear clinic and the project had the support of many local organisations and businesses.
It was hoped a new mobile clinic would be up and running before the end of the year. "It all depends on raising the money."
