Parental involvement is critical to addressing hearing loss in Pacific children, according to a groundbreaking study by University of Auckland researchers.
The review, led by PhD candidate Linda Palavi, along with Dr. Elizabeth Holt and Professor Vili Nosa, was published in the Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand.
It highlights the inequities faced by Pacific families in accessing effective hearing care services despite government-funded screening programs.
Palavi, a New Zealand-born Tongan from the villages of Kolofo’ou and Kolomotu’a in Nuku’alofa, emphasized the importance of empowering parents to improve outcomes.
“I hope the research empowers Pacific families and highlights their voices, experiences, and struggles as they deal with children’s hearing impairments,” she said.
The study found that cultural values, poverty, and stigma play significant roles in how Pacific parents manage their children’s hearing loss.
Women and family dynamics are central to perceptions and care.
“Pacific parents stand as the first point of contact for their children’s health,” Palavi noted, advocating for family-centred hearing care services.
With spirituality and cultural beliefs shaping responses to disability, the study stresses the need for culturally sensitive approaches.
Palavi credited her academic mentors and family support for her success, calling her PhD journey “a testament to my faith and the village I have behind me.”