The Nature of Parental Involvement Among Pacific Children and Adolescents With Hearing Loss
Tracks
Dingo Room: In-Person Only
| Tuesday, October 21, 2025 |
| 12:10 PM - 12:40 PM |
| Dingo Room (M4) |
Overview
Linda Palavi, The University of Auckland
Presenter
Miss Linda Palavi
Phd Candidate
The University Of Auckland
The Nature of Parental Involvement Among Pacific Children and Adolescents With Hearing Loss
Presentation Overview
Pacific children experience a high prevalence of inequitable ear diseases and access to hearing care services in New Zealand. This research aimed to explore Pacific parents’ involvement with caring for children and adolescents with hearing loss and experiences with hearing health services. It provides parental involvement as a new perspective to improve hearing health outcomes for Pacific children in New Zealand.
This research was underpinned by the Fonua model to ensure it is culturally meaningful to our Pacific communities. The first phase examined key demographic, audiological and service attributes of Pacific children aged 0-10 years who had a First Specialist Appointment for Audiology services at the Manukau Super Clinic in 2023. The second phase comprised semi-structured talanoa exploring parental involvement and hearing care with Pacific parents of children with hearing loss and then among hearing health and education professionals. The Fonua Ola of kumi (search), langa (build), tauhi (evaluation) and tufunga (reconstruct) generated talanoa themes.
Most Pacific children exhibited a mild hearing loss (20.2%), high Otitis media (35.0%) and were largely situated in high socioeconomically deprived areas (82.3%). Significant associations were found between age and Otitis media (p=0.04), hearing loss (p=0.01) and grommets (p<0.001). Despite high appointment attendance (85.5%), the referral route into the hearing screening pathway was complex. The absence of familial mental and emotional support has made familial experiences burdensome within the hearing care pathway.
Parental involvement among Pacific families affected by hearing loss, service experiences and the hearing care pathway are bounded by day-to-day challenges and socioeconomic hardships. A family-centered approach can bridge the gap in understanding and foster better referral and parental engagement between Pacific families and professionals along this pathway. Navigators and mechanisms to enhance parental involvement reduces transition and accessibility barriers so Pacific families experience unified and timely hearing care for their hearing-impaired children.
Three Key Learnings:
1. The importance of family-centered hearing healthcare for our Pacific people.
2. The use of Pacific health models to improve healthcare engagement.
3. The complexity of hearing loss experiences among indigenous Pacific communities.
This research was underpinned by the Fonua model to ensure it is culturally meaningful to our Pacific communities. The first phase examined key demographic, audiological and service attributes of Pacific children aged 0-10 years who had a First Specialist Appointment for Audiology services at the Manukau Super Clinic in 2023. The second phase comprised semi-structured talanoa exploring parental involvement and hearing care with Pacific parents of children with hearing loss and then among hearing health and education professionals. The Fonua Ola of kumi (search), langa (build), tauhi (evaluation) and tufunga (reconstruct) generated talanoa themes.
Most Pacific children exhibited a mild hearing loss (20.2%), high Otitis media (35.0%) and were largely situated in high socioeconomically deprived areas (82.3%). Significant associations were found between age and Otitis media (p=0.04), hearing loss (p=0.01) and grommets (p<0.001). Despite high appointment attendance (85.5%), the referral route into the hearing screening pathway was complex. The absence of familial mental and emotional support has made familial experiences burdensome within the hearing care pathway.
Parental involvement among Pacific families affected by hearing loss, service experiences and the hearing care pathway are bounded by day-to-day challenges and socioeconomic hardships. A family-centered approach can bridge the gap in understanding and foster better referral and parental engagement between Pacific families and professionals along this pathway. Navigators and mechanisms to enhance parental involvement reduces transition and accessibility barriers so Pacific families experience unified and timely hearing care for their hearing-impaired children.
Three Key Learnings:
1. The importance of family-centered hearing healthcare for our Pacific people.
2. The use of Pacific health models to improve healthcare engagement.
3. The complexity of hearing loss experiences among indigenous Pacific communities.
Biography
My name is Linda Palavi (BHSc, PGDipPH, MPH (Hons)) and I am a New Zealand-born Tongan hailing from the villages of Kolofo’ou and Kolomotu’a in Tongatapu, Tonga. I am a PhD candidate and researcher at the University of Auckland, School of Population Health in the Department of Pacific Health. My background is in public health research, specifically focused on Pacific health equity in research areas such as smoking cessation, alcohol and drug addiction and hearing healthcare for children.
