Samoa is a developing country in the Pacific Ocean with a population of approximately 230,000.
The population is too small to support local training programs for teachers, dentists and audiologists. Those working with people with dental problems or a hearing-impairment have either been trained overseas or have undertaken informal training locally.
In 2008, audiologists Philip and Cristy Newall, both members of the Rotary Club of Carlingford, NSW, were approached to help Senese Inclusive Education Support Services, a not-for-profit learning and support centre for children with learning and physical disabilities in Samoa’s capital of Apia.
Children with a hearing impairment who are not able to hear the teacher in a classroom have little chance of education and later employment opportunities will be very limited. Identifying such children, fitting hearing aids to them and placing them in an appropriate educational setting is very important.
PICTURED: One of the Newall’s team members assesses a child’s hearing.
Since 2008, Philip and Cristy have completed 23 trips to Samoa, during which time they have carried out 923 assessments of hearing, 628 hearing aid appointments, 430 fittings of hearing aids, and 13 fittings of bone anchored hearing aids (BAHA’s) on softbands.
During their latest visit in March, they assessed the hearing of 44 clients, mostly children, saw 27 children and five adults, and fitted 25 hearing aids. Fifteen ear mould impressions were also taken, which have since been made up and posted back.
Following the Newall’s first visit, they were joined by volunteers from NextSense, Hearing Australia, Attune Hearing and other clinics. They actively liaise with the local Rotary Club in Apia and have obtained support from many sources, including the Rotary Club of Carlingford.
During their visits they train local staff, while staff from Senese Inclusive Education book in cases and look after the clients in between visits.
PICTURED: A Samoan colleague trained by the Newall’s team.
“Our work is demanding, but it can be quite rewarding. We have seen many children’s faces light up when they hear sounds for the first time,” said Philip. “We also see children on our visits who we fitted with hearing aids many years ago, who can communicate and have gained employment.”
Once such client was a 15-year-old girl found wandering the streets as she had dropped out of high school. She was wearing old clothes and looked neglected. A Senese teacher noticed her and realised that she had severe hearing loss.
“We saw her later in a smart school uniform attending high school with a sign language interpreter and we fitted her with hearing aids,” Philip said.
“Another adolescent boy came for hearing aids because he could not hear music like his friends. It is very unusual for a boy of this age to come forward for a hearing aid fitting.”
The need for training of local staff, identification/screening, diagnostic audiology, hearing aid fitting, maintenance, replacement parental support and educational services is great.
If you would like to support the Newall’s work in Samoa, you can make a tax-deductible donation to the project via Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS). Visit donations.rawcs.com.au/132-2019-20