Head, Ear Health
PhD
Associate Professor Chris Brennan-Jones is an audiologist and clinician scientist who leads the Ear Health team at Telethon Kids Institute. His research is focused on understanding the causes of childhood hearing loss, including otitis media (a disease of the middle ear), and designing and evaluating interventions to reduce the impact of hearing loss on children.
A key focus for A/Prof Brennan-Jones and his team is improving the ear and hearing health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and improving access to services using innovations in telehealth. He and his team work in partnership with a Aboriginal Community Advisory Group, chaired by Mr Leon Hayward, to provide robust cultural governance for the team’s research and ensure their research prioritises and improves key outcomes identified by the community.
Current roles:
- Head, Ear Health, Telethon Kids Institute (within the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases)
- Associate Professor, School of Allied Health, Curtin University
- Senior paediatric audiologist, Perth Children's Hospital
- Clinical Associate Professor, The University of Western Australia
- Co-Lead, Senses Special Interest Group, Raine Study
- Associate Editor, International Journal of Audiology
- Buttressing Coalition Member, Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research
A/Prof Brennan-Jones has received more than $8M in research grants as a chief investigator, including funding from the NHMRC, MRFF, WA Department of Health and Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation. He has published more than 80 peer-reviewed publications, a number of book chapters, and contributed to national and international clinical guidelines and parliamentary reports. He is the chief investigator for the Djaalinj Waakinj and Ear Portal projects and leads a suite of Cochrane reviews examining interventions for chronic suppurative otitis media.
A/Prof Brennan-Jones is Co-Chair of the Children’s Hearing Research Group at Perth Children’s Hospital, a Steering Committee Member for the WA Child Ear Health Strategy, member of the Commonwealth Hearing Loss Prevention Coalition, a regular NHMRC grant review panel member and grant reviewer for the NIH and other local funding bodies.
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Projects
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Publications
January 2024
A hospital-based asynchronous ENT telehealth service for children with otitis media: Cost-minimisation and improved access
The purpose of this study is to explore the effectiveness of a hospital-based asynchronous ear, nose, and throat telehealth service (the Ear Portal) in reducing cost and improving access for children with otitis media.
Published research Ear Infections Ear Health Vaccine Trials Group Youth Mental Health Subsite: Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases TelehealthJanuary 2024Remote paediatric ear examination comparing video-otoscopy and still otoscopy clinician rated outcomes
Telemedicine, particularly real time video-otoscopy in rural and remote Australia holds great potential in assessing and managing otology conditions. There is good evidence of store and forward images for assessment, however limited evidence exists for the use of real-time video-otoscopy. The objective of this study was to assess the validity of using real time video-otoscopy, compared to standard store and forward still image otoscopy, in a paediatric population.
Published research Ear Infections Ear Health TelehealthDecember 2023Safety, tolerability, and effect of a single aural dose of Dornase alfa at the time of ventilation tube surgery for otitis media: A Phase 1b double randomized control trial
One third of children require repeat ventilation tube insertion (VTI) for otitis media. Disease recurrence is associated with persistent middle ear bacterial biofilms. With demonstration that Dornase alfa (a DNase) disrupts middle ear effusion biofilms ex vivo, we identified potential for this as an anti-biofilm therapy to prevent repeat VTI. First, safety and tolerability needed to be measured.
Published research Ear Infections Child Disability Ear Health Vaccine Trials Group Subsite: Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Bacterial Respiratory Infectious Disease GroupDecember 2023The Impact of Waiting Times on Behavioral Outcomes for Children with Otitis Media: Results from an Urban Ear, Nose, and Throat Telehealth Service
Children with otitis media (OM) experience long waiting times to access Australia's public hospitals due to limited capacity. The aim of this article is to utilize an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) telehealth service (the Ear Portal) to examine whether delayed access to specialist care is associated with poorer behavioral outcomes for children with OM.
Published research Ear Infections Ear Health Youth Mental Health TelehealthNovember 2023Recurrent otitis media and behaviour problems in middle childhood: A longitudinal cohort study
To investigate the long-term effects of early-life recurrent otitis media (OM) and subsequent behavioural problems in children at the age of 10 years.
Published research Ear Infections Ear Health Youth Mental HealthNovember 2023Impact of ventilation tube insertion on long-term language outcomes at 6 and 10 years of age: A prospective pregnancy cohort study
Investigating the impact of early childhood ventilation tube insertion (VTI) on long-term language outcomes.
Published research Academic Biostatistics Ear Infections Early Childhood Development Language Development Ear Health Vaccine Trials Group Youth Mental Health Subsite: Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious DiseasesSeptember 2023ISOM 2023 research Panel 4 - Diagnostics and microbiology of otitis media
To identify and review key research advances from the literature published between 2019 and 2023 on the diagnosis and microbiology of otitis media (OM) including acute otitis media (AOM), recurrent AOM (rAOM), otitis media with effusion (OME), chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) and AOM complications (mastoiditis).
Published research Ear Infections Ear Health Bacterial Respiratory Infectious Disease GroupSeptember 2023Do parent-reported early indicators predict later developmental language disorder? A Raine Study investigation
Developmental language disorder (DLD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental conditions. Due to variable rates of language growth in children under 5 years, the early identification of children with DLD is challenging. Early indicators are often outlined by speech pathology regulatory bodies and other developmental services as evidence to empower caregivers in the early identification of DLD.
Published research Early Childhood Development Autism Research Ear Health Youth Mental Health Subsite: CliniKids Developmental Coordination DisorderSeptember 2023Ear and hearing outcomes in Aboriginal infants living in an urban Australian area: the Djaalinj Waakinj birth cohort study
Describe the ear and hearing outcomes in Aboriginal infants in an Australian urban area. Aboriginal infants enrolled in the Djaalinj Waakinj prospective cohort study had ear health screenings at ages 2-4, 6-8 and 12-18 months and audiological assessment at ∼12 months of age. Sociodemographic, environmental characteristics, otoscopy, otoacoustic emissions, tympanometry and visual reinforcement audiometry data were collected.
Published research Ear Infections Early Childhood Development Aboriginal Health Ear HealthAugust 2023The Impact of Early-Life Recurrent Otitis Media in Children on the Psychological Well-Being of Caregivers
Children with early-life recurrent otitis media (OM) will often endure pain, sleep disturbances, and other developmental setbacks that impact the surrounding family system. The aim of this study was to investigate the psychological well-being and family functioning of caregivers of children with early-life recurrent OM (rOM).
Published research Ear Infections Ear Health Youth Mental HealthApril 2023The association between otitis media in early childhood with later behaviour and attention problems: A longitudinal pregnancy cohort
The present study aims to investigate the association between an early history of recurrent otitis media (OM) with or without ventilation tube insertion and later behavioural problems in childhood and adolescence.
Published research Academic Biostatistics ADHD Ear Infections Ear Health Subsite: Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious DiseasesMarch 2023Ear Portal: An urban-based ear, nose, and throat, and audiology referral telehealth portal to improve access to specialist ear-health services for children
Shortage of ear, nose, and throat specialists in public hospitals can result in delays in the detection and management of otitis media. This study introduced a new hospital-based telehealth service, named the Ear Portal, and investigated its role in improving access to specialist care.
Published research Ear Infections Ear Health Vaccine Trials Group Subsite: Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious DiseasesFebruary 2023How we measure language skills of children at scale: A call to move beyond domain-specific tests as a proxy for language
The aim of this research note is to encourage child language researchers and clinicians to give careful consideration to the use of domain-specific tests as a proxy for language; particularly in the context of large-scale studies and for the identification of language disorder in clinical practice.
Published research Early Childhood Development Language Development Ear Health Youth Mental Health Subsite: CliniKidsFebruary 2023Early onset of otitis media is a strong predictor of subsequent disease in urban Aboriginal infants: Djaalinj Waakinj cohort study
Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children in rural/remote areas suffer high rates of persistent otitis media (OM) from early infancy. We aimed to determine the proportion of Aboriginal infants living in an urban area who have OM and investigate associated risk factors.
Published research Ear Infections Aboriginal Health Child Disability Ear Health Vaccine Trials Group Subsite: Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious DiseasesJanuary 2023The use of patient-report measures and intervention strategies for children and adolescents with chronic tinnitus: a scoping review
Chronic tinnitus during childhood/adolescence can be associated with impaired quality of life. Guidelines for managing paediatric tinnitus recommend assessment and interventions are often based upon the experiences and opinions of guideline committee members.
Published research Ear Infections Ear HealthDecember 2022Long-term follow-up after recurrent otitis media and ventilation tube insertion: Hearing outcomes and middle-ear health at six years of age
To investigate the long-term impact of recurrent otitis media (rOM) and ventilation tube insertion (VTI) in early childhood on hearing outcomes and middle-ear health three to five years later, in a prospective pregnancy cohort study.
Published research Ear Infections Early Childhood Development Ear Health Vaccine Trials Group Youth Mental HealthOctober 2022Supporting the Social-Emotional Well-Being of Elementary School Students Who Are Deaf and Hard of Hearing: A Pilot Study
Children who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing, their parents, Teachers of the Deaf, and other community stakeholders were involved in co-designing a web-based resource to support students' social-emotional well-being.
Published research Parenting & Families Ear Infections Early Childhood Development Human Development and Community Wellbeing Ear HealthAugust 2022The prevalence of and potential risk factors for Developmental Language Disorder at 10 years in the Raine Study
This study sought to determine the prevalence of Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) in Australian school-aged children and associated potential risk factors for DLD at 10 years.
Published research Early Childhood Development Language Development Ear Health Youth Mental Health Subsite: CliniKidsSeptember 2021Whole-cell pertussis vaccine in early infancy for the prevention of allergy in children
Atopic diseases are the most common chronic conditions of childhood. The apparent rise in food anaphylaxis in young children over the past three decades is of particular concern, owing to the lack of proven prevention strategies other than the timely introduction of peanut and egg.
Published research Early Childhood Development Immunisation Human Immunology Ear Health Infectious Disease Implementation Research Vaccine Trials Group Subsite: Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Allergy Immune systemOctober 2021Children with secondary care episodes for otitis media have poor literacy and numeracy outcomes: A data linkage study
We examined the association between otitis media and educational attainment in a retrospective population cohort of Western Australian children who participated in the Grade 3 National Assessment Program—Literacy and Numeracy in 2012.
Published research Ear Infections Ear Health Subsite: Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious DiseasesOctober 2021The reliability of video otoscopy recordings and still images in the asynchronous diagnosis of middle-ear disease
To compare the asynchronous assessment of video otoscopic still images to recordings by an audiologist and ear, nose and throat surgeon (ENT) for diagnostic reliability and agreement in identifying middle-ear disease.
Published research Ear Infections Ear Health Vaccine Trials GroupSeptember 2021Reflections on How Tinnitus Impacts the Lives of Children and Adolescents
The aim of this study was to generate a conceptual framework describing which aspects of children and adolescents' lives are affected by chronic tinnitus.
Published research Ear Infections Ear HealthMarch 2022Early detection of hearing loss for infants in Western Australia: Comparison to international benchmarks
To assess the degree to which timely audiological assessment of congenital hearing loss is achieved at our institution - Perth Children's Hospital, Western Australia, and to review cases which breached this timeframe in order to address barriers to timely assessment. The benchmark used to determine timely assessment is that set out by The Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (JCIH) in which diagnostic audiological testing occurs by three months of age for those who do not pass newborn hearing screening.
Published research Ear Infections Ear HealthSeptember 2021Whole‐cell pertussis vaccine in early infancy for the prevention of allergy in children
Atopic diseases are the most common chronic conditions of childhood. The apparent rise in food anaphylaxis in young children over the past three decades is of particular concern, owing to the lack of proven prevention strategies other than the timely introduction of peanut and egg.
Published research Whooping Cough Human Immunology Ear Health Infectious Disease Implementation Research Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Vaccine Trials GroupMay 2021Reducing the Impact of Tinnitus on Children and Adolescents' Lives: A Mixed-Methods Concept Mapping Study
To generate a conceptual framework describing what is done to reduce the impact of chronic tinnitus on the lives of children and adolescents.
Published research Ear HealthOctober 2020Djaalinj Waakinj (listening talking): Rationale, cultural governance, methods, population characteristics–an urban Aboriginal birth cohort study of otitis media
The majority of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (hereafter referred to as “Aboriginal”) people live in urban centres. Otitis media (OM) occurs at a younger age, prevalence is higher and hearing loss and other serious complications are more common in Aboriginal than non-Aboriginal children. Despite this, data on the burden of OM and hearing loss in urban Aboriginal children are limited.
Published research Ear Infections Aboriginal Health Ear Health Vaccine Trials Group Subsite: Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious DiseasesMarch 2021Validation of teleaudiology hearing aid rehabilitation services for adults: a systematic review of outcome measurement tools
A search strategy was developed to identify tools used to evaluate standard and teleaudiology hearing aid rehabilitation services for adults. A seven-domain hearing-health-care service model for validation was defined and used to analyse the applicability and suitability of patient- and service-centred tools. This model and the applicability and suitability criteria were based on the literature, the International Classification of Functioning (ICF) framework, and gold standard professional practice guidelines, which together formed the validation framework used in this study.
Published research Ear HealthMarch 2021Otitis media guidelines for Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children: summary of recommendations
The 2001 Recommendations for clinical care guidelines on the management of otitis media in Aboriginal and Torres Islander populations were revised in 2010. This 2020 update by the Centre of Research Excellence in Ear and Hearing Health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children used for the first time the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.
Published research Ear Infections Aboriginal Health Subsite: Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious DiseasesJanuary 2021Clinician-rated quality of video otoscopy recordings and still images for the asynchronous assessment of middle-ear disease
Video otoscopy plays an important role in improving access to ear health services. This study investigated the clinician-rated quality of video otoscopy recordings and still images, and compared their suitability for asynchronous diagnosis of middle-ear disease. Two hundred and eighty video otoscopy image-recording pairs were collected from 150 children (aged six months to 15 years) by an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist, audiologists, and trained research assistants, and independently rated by an audiologist and ENT surgeon.
Published research Ear Infections Early Childhood Development Ear Health Vaccine Trials GroupFebruary 2021Topical versus systemic antibiotics for chronic suppurative otitis media
Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM), sometimes referred to as chronic otitis media (COM), is a chronic inflammation and often polymicrobial infection (involving more than one micro-organism) of the middle ear and mastoid cavity, characterised by ear discharge (otorrhoea) through a perforated tympanic membrane. The predominant symptoms of CSOM are ear discharge and hearing loss. Antibiotics are the most common treatment for CSOM, which act to kill or inhibit the growth of micro-organisms that may be responsible for the infection.
Published research Ear Infections Ear Health Subsite: Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious DiseasesSeptember 2020Aural toilet (ear cleaning) for chronic suppurative otitis media
Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM), sometimes referred to as chronic otitis media (COM), is a chronic inflammation and often polymicrobial infection (involving more than one micro-organism) of the middle ear and mastoid cavity, characterised by ear discharge (otorrhoea) through a perforated tympanic membrane.
Published research Ear Infections Ear HealthMay 2020Reflections and perceptions of chronic tinnitus during childhood
Reflections and perceptions of chronic tinnitus during childhood
Published research Ear Infections Ear HealthJuly 2020Whole-cell pertussis vaccine in early infancy for the prevention of allergy
This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives were to assess the efficacy and safety of whole‐cell pertussis (wP) vaccinations in comparison to acellular pertussis (aP) vaccinations in early infancy for the prevention of atopic diseases in children.
Asthma Published research Whooping Cough Infectious Diseases Human Immunology Ear Health Vaccine Trials Group Subsite: Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious DiseasesJune 2020Chronic health conditions, mental health and the school: A narrative review
School-based social risk processes in the lives of young people with chronic health conditions are likely to contribute to risk of psychological problems
Published research Human Development and Community Wellbeing Ear Health Youth Mental HealthMarch 2020Cochrane corner: Sound therapy (using amplification devices and/or sound generators) for tinnitus
This Cochrane review shows that both hearing aids and sound generators may be beneficial for reducing tinnitus severity in some patients
Published research Ear HealthFebruary 2020Hearing aid review appointment: clients’ reasons for attendance and non-attendance
Appointment attendance is influenced by some factors modifiable by the clinician, including providing better education
Published research Ear HealthJanuary 2020Antibiotics versus topical antiseptics for chronic suppurative otitis media
Treatment of chronic suppurative otitis media with topical antibiotics probably results in an increase in resolution of ear discharge compared with boric acid
Published research Ear Infections Ear HealthJanuary 2020Topical antiseptics for chronic suppurative otitis media
The effectiveness and safety profile of antiseptics in the treatment of chronic suppurative otitis media is uncertain
Published research Ear Infections Ear HealthJanuary 2020Topical antibiotics for chronic suppurative otitis media
We are uncertain about the effectiveness of topical antibiotics in improving resolution of ear discharge in patients with chronic suppurative otitis media
Published research Ear Infections Ear HealthJanuary 2020Cochrane corner: interventions to prevent hearing loss caused by noise at work
The aim of this Cochrane Review was to find out if hearing loss caused by noise at work is being prevented by current interventions
Published research Ear HealthJuly 2019A Qualitative Exploration of the Role and Needs of Classroom Teachers in Supporting the Mental Health and Well-Being of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children
This study aimed to explore the role of schools and classroom teachers in supporting the mental health and well-being of deaf and hard of hearing children
Published research Ear HealthApril 2019Cochrane corner: platinum-induced hearing loss after treatment for childhood cancer
This systematic review shows that children treated with platinum analogues are at risk of developing hearing loss
Children's Cancers Published research Ear HealthJuly 2018Does otitis media in early childhood affect later behavioural development? Results from the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study
The relationship between early life episodes of otitis media and later behavioural development with adjustment for confounders.
Published research Ear Infections Autism Research Ear Health Genetics and HealthJuly 2018Teleaudiology services for rehabilitation with hearing aids in adults: A systematic review
This review provides up-to-date evidence for teleaudiology hearing aid services in new and experienced hearing aid users in different practice settings
Published research Ear HealthJuly 2018Cochrane corner: hearing aids for mild to moderate hearing loss in adults
The evidence supports the widespread provision of hearing aids as the first-line clinical management for those seeking help for hearing difficulties
Published research Ear HealthJune 2018Topical antiseptics for chronic suppurative otitis media
To assess the effects of topical antiseptics for people with chronic suppurative otitis media
Published research Ear Infections Ear HealthJune 2018Antibiotics versus topical antiseptics for chronic suppurative otitis media
To assess the effectiveness of antibiotics versus antiseptics for people with chronic suppurative otitis media.
Published research Ear Infections Ear HealthJune 2018Aural toilet (ear cleaning) for chronic suppurative otitis media
To assess the effects of aural toilet procedures for people with chronic suppurative otitis media
Published research Ear Infections Ear HealthJune 2018Topical antibiotics with steroids for chronic suppurative otitis media
To assess the effects of adding a topical steroid to topical antibiotics in the treatment of people with chronic suppurative otitis media
Published research Ear Infections Ear HealthJune 2018Topical antibiotics for chronic suppurative otitis media
To assess the effects of topical antibiotics for people with chronic suppurative otitis media.
Published research Ear Infections Ear HealthJune 2018Systemic antibiotics for chronic suppurative otitis media
To assess the effects of systemic antibiotics for people with chronic suppurative otitis media.
Published research Ear Infections Ear Health Infectious Disease Implementation Research Vaccine Trials GroupJune 2018Topical versus systemic antibiotics for chronic suppurative otitis media
To assess the relative effectiveness of topical versus systemic antibiotics for people with chronic suppurative otitis media
Published research Ear Infections Ear Health Infectious Disease Implementation Research Vaccine Trials GroupFebruary 2018Associations between cardiovascular disease and its risk factors with hearing loss—A cross-sectional analysis
We investigate the relationship between hearing loss and cardiovascular disease risk factors.
Published research Ear HealthJanuary 2018Telehealth for Diagnosis of Hearing Loss
Telehealth offers unique opportunities for providing access to hearing healthcare ser- vices to underserved populations
Published research Ear HealthJanuary 2018Telehealth for Audiological Management
This chapter focuses on the management of those with hearing impairment, and how tele-audiological tools and approaches may assist to improve service delivery
Published research Ear HealthSeptember 2017Cochrane Corner: interventions to improve hearing aid use in adult auditory rehabilitation
This "Cochrane Corner" will be a recurring feature in the journal that highlights systematic reviews relevant to audiology, with invited commentary to aid clinical decision making.
Published research Ear HealthMay 2017Mental health problems among 4–17-year-olds with hearing problems: results from a nationally representative study
Clinicians caring for children and young people with hearing problems should be alert for heightened risk of specific mental health problems based on age and the nature of hearing problems.
Published research Human Development and Community Wellbeing Ear Health Youth Mental HealthFebruary 2017Protective benefit of predominant breastfeeding against otitis media may be limited to early childhood: results from a prospective birth cohort study
Our findings are in line with a number of epidemiological studies which show a positive association between breastfeeding and OM in early childhood
Published research Breastfeeding Ear Infections Autism Research Genetics and HealthApril 2015Prevalence and risk factors for parent-reported recurrent otitis media during early childhood
The prevalence of parent-reported rOM was 26.8% (611/2280) and 5.5% (125/2280) for severe rOM in the Study.
Published research Ear Infections Autism Research Genetics and HealthOctober 2014Prevalence and risk factors for parent-reported recurrent otitis media during early childhood
The objective was to describe the prevalence and risk factors of recurrent otitis media (rOM) in an urban Australian population at 3 years of age.
Published research Autism Research Genetics and Health -
Awards/Honours