KEY POINTS:
A new health weapon is prowling Auckland's streets, ready to combat glue ear and other common children's ear infections.
Unveiled at Mt Albert's Owairaka District School yesterday, the lively liveried $165,000 Starship Mobile Ear Clinic was far from subtle, painted bright yellow and plastered with depictions of zoo animals.
But its role is a serious one - it joins two existing and less well equipped mobile clinics to allow more than 2000 extra Auckland children in need of thorough ear checks to receive them before their symptoms worsen.
Winter colds bring the inevitable blockage of children's eustachian tubes, which run between the middle ear and the nose.
The tube's role is to aerate the ear. When it blocks, the middle ear is filled with fluid.
Called glue-ear, the condition affects 24 per cent of New Zealanders at some time in their lives and can cause permanent hearing loss.
More commonly, its effect is seen in children's behaviour and learning.
Often the children don't know they have hearing difficulties, said public health ear nurse Sarah Williams.
One of five nurses who will work in the clinic, Mrs Williams said glue ear was often missed by teachers and parents, yet it could have a huge effect on children.
"If you can't hear in the classroom, there are often associated behavioural problems, because they're only picking up half of the instructions.
"Some get very quiet and withdrawn. The really young ones don't even understand they're not hearing as well, and that they are missing out on so much. And for a parent it's not obvious.
"If you're not able to monitor those children closely, they fall further and further behind. All of the time their hearing's not improving. It could be getting worse."
For Joanne Rose, mother of identical triplets, there was no indication her children had hearing difficulties.
But after being checked in a mobile clinic, all three received grommets to relieve pressure on their middle ears.
"I wasn't aware they had any ear infections at all. I don't think they realised they had a hearing problem before they got the grommets, and they said they could hear better."
Since the grommets, her children's school-work had improved.
One of them received two A-grades for listening, her first such achievement.
The clinic's vital work makes its inception all the more impressive. It was paid for by donations from Mercury Energy's Star Supporters Club members, who donate an average $3 on their monthly power bill to Starship hospital projects such as the ear clinic.
* Warning signs
How to tell whether a toddler or child may have an ear infection:
Not listening.
Delay in learning to talk.
Disruptive behaviour.
Snoring and breathing through the mouth.
