The overrepresentation of Indigenous Australians in the criminal justice system has been thoroughly documented over a number of decades. However, studies tend to adopt homogenising discourses that fail to acknowledge or deeply examine the diversity of Indigenous Australian experiences of crime, including across geographic and cultural contexts. This has prompted calls for a more thorough investigation of how experiences of crime differ across Australia’s Indigenous communities, including between remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. This paper forms part of a larger study, examining crime and justice in the Torres Strait Region, situated off the far northern tip of the State of Queensland. Here, we examine and compare reported crime trends in the Torres Straits with those in Queensland’s remote Aboriginal communities and Queensland State on the whole. We then draw upon existing anthropological, historical and other literature to explore possible explanations for differences in these crime rates. We find that crime rates are generally lower in the Torres Strait Region and that the different historical experiences of colonisation and policing may provide a partial explanation for this, particularly through the lens of social disorganisation theory.
Background: Meniere's syndrome has a significant impact on the health, wellbeing and quality of life of those individuals diagnosed with this disorder. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the types of health care services provided to individuals with Meniere's syndrome and the roles of the patient, medical specialists and audiologists in its management. Method: 20 patients diagnosed with Meniere's syndrome and 7 health professionals directly involved in diagnosis and management were recruited. Their perspectives were obtained using either semi-structured interviews (for health professionals) or questionnaires (for patients). An assessment of how patients' needs are being met by current practices was undertaken by comparing with 'best practice' chronic illness management practices. Results: Results show that patients with Meniere's syndrome need greater support to achieve high quality of life outcomes. Current care practices do not fully address the patients' needs for support and the key elements of chronic illness management were not evident. Finally, the role of audiologists was not clear across all stakeholders.
Although it has been well recognised that the ability of children to understand speech influences educational outcomes, there are few methods available to assess the ability of children to understand everyday speech. In this study, The University of Queensland Understanding of Everyday Speech Test (UQUEST) was used with normal hearing and hearing-impaired Australian, school-aged children in order to compare a content-based questionnaire approach to assessing the understanding of everyday speech with a subjective, self-rating approach. A total of 582 children, aged 5.3 years to 10.9 years (mean= 7.7 years, SD = 1.3), were asked to rate their understanding of a passage of everyday speech, before answering four content-based questions about the UQUEST passage. Results demonstrated only a weak correlation (< 0.3) between self-ratings and actual scores using Spearman's rank correlation. A significant difference between the methods using ANOVA, F = 10.141, p = .002, was also found. These results suggest that it is not possible to predict UQUEST scores from self-ratings and vice versa.
The aim of this study was to highlight key factors influencing the success of cochlear implantation and the educational placements of postmeningitically deafened children. This retrospective study identified 56 postmeningitically deafened children (diagnosed between 4-140 months of age) with no diagnosed cognitive impairment. It compared the age of diagnosis (categorised as prelingual, 12 months) with the medical/surgical outcomes (i.e., whether drilling was required for implant insertion and the type of insertion/ electrode array used). Additionally, whether educational support was provided throughout the years of preschool to high school was considered as a very broad measure of functional performance. Fortyeight participants (86%) acquired postmeningitic deafness prelingually and 34 (61%) participants were implanted early. This suggests that delays in implantation from the time of diagnosis do not influence whether surgical drilling is required or the likelihood of full insertion of the implant. Further, none of these medical or surgical variables appear to influence the functional outcome of the child. This suggests that the age of diagnosis, delay of implantation and presence of cochlear ossification do not significantly influence the successful outcome of implantation.
The test-retest reliability of the auditory steady-state response (ASSR) has not been studied systematically, although ASSR has become a popular tool for estimating hearing thresholds in people who cannot be tested using behavioural measures. This study aimed to investigate the test-retest reliability of ASSR in 34 normally hearing adults aged from 18 yrs to 47 yrs (mean= 25 years) across two ASSR recordings taken from a randomly selected ear of each participant using the Bio-logic® MASTER system. The results showed no significant difference in mean ASSR thresholds between the test and retest conditions for all stimulus frequencies. The intracorrelation coefficients at 0.5 kHz, 1 kHz, 2 kHz and 4 kHz, were 0.63, 0.70, 0.64 and 0.48, respectively, indicating good test-retest reliability of the ASSR test for all frequencies except 4 kHz. Improvements in instrumentation are warranted to improve the reliability of ASSR threshold measures at 4kHz.
This preliminary study aimed to determine whether there were identifiable improvements in language and speech perception abilities in children with severe to profound bilateral hearing loss, who received sequential bilateral cochlear implants (CIs). Data was collected from 22 children from an early auditory-verbal therapy intervention centre. Assessment data was collected for receptive vocabulary, and expressive, receptive, and total language standard scores. Scores were compared with the Wilcoxon signed-rank test for participants with data when they were fitted with one and two CIs. No significant differences in receptive vocabulary scores (n = 4), and expressive, receptive, and total language scores (n = 6) were found one to two years after bilateral implantation. Speech perception data before and after bilateral implantation were categorised and compared for 21 out of the 22 children. Results indicated an improvement in speech perception abilities for 14 out of 21 children within one year after the second CI. Results indicate varied performance for participants in this study and the need for further research on outcomes of bilateral implantation.
Dementia is a debilitating disease known to severely compromise the cognitive functions essential for speech and language processing. For patients with dementia presenting for cochlear implantation, these compromised cognitive functions may limit their ability to achieve a successful implant outcome. At present, no standard screening process for dementia or cognitive abilities exists in current audiological practice. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of dementia on cochlear implant (CI) outcomes and assess the effectiveness of the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) as a screening tool for dementia and cognitive abilities in patients presenting for cochlear implantation. An additional aim was to investigate whether a cognitive screening test is needed in CI clinics and a final aim was to investigate the effect of cognitive function on postoperative management time and difficulty. Twenty CI recipients aged > 65 years were administered the MMSE and questionnaires were given to the case managers regarding these patients' cognitive abilities, post operative management and overall CI outcomes. Correlation analysis and regression analysis was performed to investigate relationships between MMSE scores, questionnaire responses and 3 month postoperative speech perception scores. Results suggested dementia does have a significant impact on CI outcomes, as patients with dementia showed significantly poorer speech perception scores compared to healthy (nondemented) patients. Patients with dementia were also shown to experience longer and more difficult postoperative management. Furthermore, the MMSE was shown to be a useful and effective tool for assessing a patient's cognitive abilities and predicting implant outcomes.
This article reports the results of two studies that examined the relationship between (central) auditory processing ([C]AP) - as measured by a (C)AP test battery, and understanding connected speech-in-noise - as measured by The University of Queensland Understanding Everyday Speech Test (UQUEST), in school-aged children referred for a (C)AP assessment. Study 1 involved 25 children (16 boys and 9 girls aged 7-17 years) and Study 2 involved 19 children (13 boys and 6 girls aged 7-14 years), all of whom had normal hearing sensitivity on the day of testing. The (C)AP assessments were conducted at signal levels of 50 dB HL (dial) in both studies, using low pass filtered speech (LPFS), two-pair dichotic digits (DD), competing sentences (CS; 35 dB HL [dial] target sentence and 50 dB HL [dial] competing sentence) and frequency patterns (with linguistic and nonlinguistic report: FPT-L and FPT-NL respectively). UQUEST assessments were conducted at signal levels of 65 dB HL (dial) in Study l, and 50 dB HL (dial) in Study 2, and at signal-to-noise (SNR) ratios of +5 and 0 dB HL (dial) in both studies. For Study 1 (UQUEST signal level = 65 dB HL [dial]), Spearman's rank correlation analyses showed no significant (p < .05) correlations between (C)AP and UQUEST scores, and Mann-Whitney analyses showed no significant (p < .05) differences in UQUEST scores between the at risk and not at risk for (C)APD groups for any of the three (C)APD diagnostic criteria used. For Study 2 (UQUEST signal level= 50 dB HL [dial]), moderate correlations were observed between UQUEST+5 and CSR (r = .55, p < .05) and FP-LL (r = 0.56, p < .05), and UQUEST0 and CSL (r =.57, p < .05); and significant (p < .01 or better) differences were observed between the UQUEST+5 scores of at risk and not at risk for (C)APD groups for two of three different diagnostic criteria used. These results suggest the (C)AP tests and the UQUEST+5 presented at 50 dB HL (dial) were measuring related processes, and this presentation of the UQUEST could serve as a useful screening tool for (C)APD under certain diagnostic criteria.
Cochlear implantation has been established as the intervention of choice for children with severe to profound hearing loss who obtain limited benefit from conventional amplification options. The aim of this retrospective study was to review the speech perception and language outcomes for 25 children with a preterm and/or low birth-weight history, who use cochlear implants. The relationship between demographic details (such as gestational age and birth weight) and outcomes (speech perception and receptive language) were analysed. Results for this small group were compared to published outcomes for fullterm children using cochlear implants with hearing loss as their sole diagnosis, as well as children with additional disabilities who used cochlear implants. A significant relationship was found between speech perception outcomes and cognition, and between age of implant and receptive language outcomes in this study. This article also examined clinical considerations such as programming the speech processor for this group of children.
This study investigated the ability of adult cochlear implantees to understand everyday speech using The University of Queensland Understanding Everyday Speech Test (UQUEST), and three traditional speech tests (AB Words, Hearing-In-Noise Test [HINT], and Central Institute of Deaf [CID] Sentences) under various noise conditions. Participants were 16 postlingually deafened adults (mean age = 44.4 years, SD = 18.1) with a unilateral cochlear implant and 18 normally hearing adults (mean age = 28.8 years, SD = 7.8). The mean UQUEST scores for cochlear implantees ranged from 87.5% to 61.5% as the test condition varied from quiet to a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 10 dB, 5 dB, and 0 dB, while the corresponding scores for the normally hearing participants ranged from 97.2% to 93%, indicating that speech comprehension by cochlear implantees was more affected by noise than their normally hearing peers. At 0 dB SNR, cochlear implantees performed best in the HINT, followed by UQUEST, CID Sentences and AB Words. UQUEST scores were not significantly correlated with the AB Word and CID Sentence scores at the 0 dB SNR condition, suggesting that the UQUEST assessed different listening abilities from these tests. It is recommended that the UQUEST be included in the speech reception test battery for cochlear implantees.
As a consequence of the stimulation of the vestibular system, some vestibular function tests may evoke feelings of dizziness and/or nausea in susceptible people. This study aimed to assess whether migrainous populations perceive heightened emetic and/or movement perception in response to caloric and rotational chair testing. Sixty-three volunteers including those with migraine, vertigo, definite and probable vestibular migraine and healthy controls with no migraine or balance history were asked to rank their perceptions of nausea and movement during caloric stimulation and sinusoidal harmonic acceleration. The contribution of anxiety and motion sickness history to perceptions of stimulation were also investigated. Overall the results confirm that the perception of nausea with caloric stimulation is a significantly distinguishing factor between the definite vestibular migraine category and other vestibular and migrainous disorders. The study also identified that anxiety levels may serve as a predictor for nauseous outcome in the absence of vestibular migraine diagnosis.
This study aimed to determine if acoustic stapedial reflex (ASR) results were affected by testing healthy neonates using two different probe positions. A total of 158 healthy neonates were recruited in this stndy. They were assessed using transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs), high frequency tympanometry (HFT) and ASR tests. Only one ear that was most easily accessible was tested. Ipsilateral ASR testing was performed using a Madsen Otoflex diagnostic immittance meter, with ASRs elicited using a 2 kHz pure tone and broadband noise (BEN) stimuli. ASR thresholds (ASRTs) were recorded for each stimulus in two probe positions: (a) vertical, with the neonate lying with the test ear facing up; and (b) horizontal, with the neonate lying with the test ear facing sideways. The ASRT results, analysed using an analysis of variance (ANOV A), showed no significant effects for the two probe positions irrespective of the type of stimuli (p > .05). These findings imply that the ASRTs obtained from neonates are independent of the probe positions. Hence, normative data obtained using either probe position are clinically valid measures.
It has long been suggested that the consequences of adult hearing impairment (HI) include stress, anxiety and depression, yet relatively little formal assessment of mental health status amongst adult Australians who have acquired HI has been reported. This questionnaire- based study investigated the self-reported hearing handicap and mental health characteristics of a sample of 375 Australian adults with HI who were members of Better Hearing Australia (BHA) in six Australian states/territories. Participants completed two mental health questionnaires; the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale-10 (K-10; Kessler, Andrews, Colpe, and Hiripi, 2002) and the Depression- Anxiety-Stress Scale (DASS; Lovibond and Lovibond, 1995) as well as the short version of the Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults Screening Version (HHIA-S; Newman, Weinstein, Jacobson, and Hug, 1990). No difference was found in the prevalence of psychological distress amongst participants compared to that of the Australian adult population. It was noted, however, that increased severity of self-reported hearing handicap was associated with higher levels of self-perceived psychological distress. In turn, high or very high levels of psychological distress measured on the K-10 were correlated with depressive states more than with stress or anxiety ratings on the DASS. The results highlighted the need to incorporate a combination of questionnaire-based measures in evaluating self-reported mental health and hearing handicap.
Obtaining feedback from clients about the efficacy of audiological rehabilitation is essential in providing a quality service. Numerous self-reported measures have been developed for use in audiological rehabilitation. The International Outcomes Inventory for Hearing Aids (IOI-HA) is a commonly used and well validated self-report measure (Cox and Alexander, 2002). Changes in self-reported outcomes over time have received little attention. The aim of this study was to investigate whether self-reported outcomes changed over a 12 to 24-month period, post hearing aid fitting, compared with outcome measures obtained at the time of fitting. The IOI-HA was administered twice in this study. Participants first completed the IOI-HA at the conclusion of their hearing aid fitting; participants completed a second IOI-HA, 12 to 24 months post hearing aid fitting. Comparisons were made between the two administrations. Results showed a significant reduction in satisfaction with hearing devices and significant increase in awareness of residual hearing difficulties over 12 to 24 months. Usage and benefit of hearing devices remained constant over this period. These findings highlight the importance of educating clients about expectations regarding residual hearing difficulties and reinforce the necessity of annual reviews where reduction in satisfaction can be addressed.
The aim of this grounded theory (GT) study was to gain insight into adult participants' perceptions of a group aural rehabilitation (AR) program. The participant group for this in-depth interview-based study were 8 female and 2 male adults with acquired hearing losses who had completed an introductory group AR course conducted by South Australian organisation Hearing Solutions (now Guide Dogs of South Australia and Northern Territory Hearing Services) in the prior 12 months. Semistructured interviews were carried out and analysed using GT methodology. The core category (Empowerment through improved selfimage) describes the overall main benefit the participants reported from attending the course. Six descriptive categories were found that underpinned the core category: Improved understanding of communication strategies, Improved social relationships, Course satisfaction, Personal validation from social interaction, Decreased emotional isolation, and Improved self-confidence. An additional three descriptive categories were discovered that related to factors that motivated people to attend the course: Motivation for change, Hearing difficulties, and Negative self-perceptions of hearing loss. The current study provides a model for understanding how these factors may interrelate, and highlights the importance of motivation and group interaction in obtaining positive outcomes in AR.
This research aimed to adapt the Amsterdam Inventory for Auditory Disability and Handicap (AIADH) into Cantonese. A total of six Cantonese-English bilingual speakers participated in the adaptation of the AIADH. One-hundred and thirtythree normal-hearing and hearing-impaired Chinesespeaking participants from Hong Kong completed the Cantonese adaptation of the questionnaire (CAIADH). Good internal consistency and reliability of the questionnaire was indicated by a high Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Statistical analysis showed that the newly adapted questionnaire could differentiate between normal-hearing and hearing-impaired subjects. Percentiles were computed from the data obtained from normal-hearing subjects (n = 35) to obtain normal scores for the C-AIADH. The findings and possible clinical uses are discussed.
The South Australian Government funds Tinnitus SA to provide advice and information to South Australians to assist in their understanding of tinnitus and their decision making about tinnitus-related service provision. This qualitative study aimed to identify key motivations for adults seeking tinnitus advice, determine how those services are perceived, and provide insight into the helpseeking behaviour of those who experience tinnitus. Participants in this study were recruited from Tinnitus SA's attendance lists for their community information sessions held in 2008 and 2009. Of the 60 people contacted, 13 adults agreed to particpate in the semistructured interviews. Interviews, lasting approximately 45 minutes focused on interviewees' perceptions of their tinnitus prior to attending the Tinnitus SA information session, their response to the information session itself, and their perceptions and actions following the information session. Grounded theory was used as the guiding methodology for analysis of the transcribed interview data. The themes that emerged during analysis of the interviews fell into two broad descriptive categories: Empowerment through information and education; and If you can't cure me I'll cope. Together these categories led to the overarching theme of participants' responses: 'I don't need help, but I'd like more information'. Further analysis revealed that the Tinnitus SA community sessions were the primary source of information for the majority of these participants and there was a high level of satisfaction with these sessions by contrast to other information sources.
This mixed methods study investigated the impact on Australian families of the decisionmaking process and the ongoing (re)habilitation demands of their children's cochlear implantation.Quantitative results from a survey of 247 parents found that parents experienced stress related to the decision-making and rehabilitation processes at significantly higher levels than they had expected pre-implant.Multiple regression analysis identified factors that were predictive of parents' experiences of rehabilitation efforts and stress.Qualitative data from interviews with 27 of the survey respondents elaborated on the quantitative findings and provided insights into the impact on families' lives, identifying the greatest problem areas and potential stressors for parents.Implications and recommendations for professionals working with families are drawn from the findings.
