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Table 4 Literature reviews

From: Childhood disability in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples: a literature review

First Author (year)

Disability/ impairment

Method description

Population

Setting

Aims

Key Findings

Conclusions/recommendations

Category

Thorley, M. (2011)

Intellectual disability; general

No

Primary school- aged Indigenous Australian children

Australia

To present OTs with practice guidelines for conducting assessments with this population

Casual discussion with the client is preferable to a formal initial interview; Having Indigenous health worker present is appropriate and recommended

There is a general lack of research on assessments for Indigenous children; When working with Indigenous children: time should be invested in establishing relationship; familiar environment enabling therapist to build rapport; communication strategies including softer voice, avoiding jargon, using demonstration for unfamiliar tasks, using non-verbal media.

A, S

Williams, C. (2009)

Hearing

No

Indigenous and non-indigenous children

Australia

To discuss increased risk of negative cognitive and educational sequelae in Indigenous children with OM

Indigenous children may be at higher risk of cognitive and educational sequelae; early onset, more frequent infections, and infections of longer duration shown to be risk factors for long-term consequences.

Need for approaches to otitis media in Indigenous population that encompass both medical and educational considerations.

Q

Tourky, A. (1992)

Vision

No

Aboriginal children

Remote and isolated communities

To analyze the significance and the role played by the teachers in educating the Aboriginal children with visual impairments

Children with mild, moderate or severe visual problems develop behaviors (limited persistence due to fatigue, frustration with task completion or refusal to commence tasks, decreased motivation) that have negative effect on learning and school and non-school tasks.

Behaviors due to the visual problems have extremely significant negative impact on learning; measures needed to reduce adverse impacts.

Q

O'Neil, M. (2004)

General disability

no description of search terms, timeframe

Australian literature

Australia

To identify unique issues confronting Indigenous people with disabilities, their families, & communities

Indigenous people with a disability are generally not excluded from or stigmatized in their communities; disability may be viewed as a family or community problem, rather than a personal one

Little is known about the actual burden of disability experienced by Indigenous people, no firm data about the extent to which the use of disability support services by Indigenous people reflects their burden of disability.

R

Gunasekera,H.( 2009)

Hearing

Yes

OM management literature

Australia

To summarize best evidence for management of OM

Indigenous children with AOM should be treated with antibiotics on first visit; children with OME, and no speech and language delays, can be observed safely for 3–6 months; children with CSOM need ear cleaning & topical antibiotics.

HPs managing these children can use this evidence to make informed decisions and can discuss the pros and cons of the different management options with the child’s parents/carers

S

Burrow et al. (2009)

Hearing- strictly

No

Educational approaches

Australia

impact of hearing loss; factors contributing to hearing loss; prevention and management of otitis media and hearing loss; education strategies addressing hearing loss; and policies and policy implications for reducing hearing loss and its educational consequences.

Summaries of hearing-related screening, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, language, amplification, and management issues.

Little government and policy support for research on education, social, emotional, family and community effects of Indigenous hearing loss.

R, A, S, I, Q

  1. Otitis Media (OM); Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media (CSOM); otitis media with effusion (OME); acute otitis media (AOM); Category: (R-recognition/awareness; A-Access; S-Solutions; I-Intervention; Q-Sequelae/outcomes).