FAQs

An audiologist is a university-trained professional specialising in the diagnosis of non-medical hearing problems and hearing-related problems, such as tinnitus. All audiologists at Canberra Audiology hold a Master of Clinical Audiology and are full members of Audiology Australia.

You could benefit from having a hearing test if:

• You or your family are concerned about your hearing
• You experience ringing or sounds in your ears (tinnitus)
• You have pain in your ears
• You experience dizziness or balance problems
• You often ask people to repeat themselves
• You struggle to follow conversations in background noise

No referral is required to book an appointment at Canberra Audiology. However, a written referral from a GP, ENT specialist, paediatrician, or neurologist is needed to access a Medicare rebate on your appointment fee. The referral must be provided before your appointment — we are unable to back-date referrals.

A standard diagnostic hearing assessment typically takes around 45–60 minutes. This includes taking a case history, examining your ears, conducting the hearing tests, and discussing your results and next steps. More specialist assessments (such as APD testing) may take considerably longer.

A hearing assessment is an easy and painless test where you will be required to listen to beeps and speech and respond in certain ways. The audiologist will also look inside your ears and test the flexibility of your eardrum by using a machine that blows a soft puff of air upon it.

At the end of the appointment, your audiologist will explain your results clearly and discuss any recommended next steps — there is no pressure to make any decisions on the day.

The treatment of hearing loss depends on which part of the ear it affects.

Most hearing loss involves the inner ear and is permanent in nature. Treatment for this type of hearing loss may include counselling and communication strategies in cases where the hearing loss is of a mild degree, or hearing aids where the hearing loss is of a more severe degree.

Some hearing loss can involve the middle or outer ear. This type of hearing loss is potentially medically treatable. In such a case, your audiologist will refer you to your doctor with a view for Ear, Nose and Throat surgeon referral.

The consequences of not treating hearing loss vary according to the type of hearing loss. For the most common type of hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss — or "nerve deafness" — auditory deprivation is often seen in those who forgo the fitting of hearing aids for many years.

Auditory deprivation occurs when the auditory centres of the brain have not received appropriate input for so long that they "forget" how to hear. After long enough, sounds such as speech become permanently distorted and even hearing aids cannot be of any benefit.

Noise-induced hearing loss — one of the most common types — is almost entirely preventable. Wearing appropriate hearing protection in loud environments (workplaces, concerts, while shooting, etc.) significantly reduces your risk. We offer a range of custom hearing protection solutions for all lifestyles.

Age-related hearing loss cannot be fully prevented, but early identification and treatment ensures the best possible outcomes.

If you have no known hearing concerns, a hearing test every 2–3 years is a reasonable baseline for adults over 50. If you already have a known hearing loss or wear hearing aids, annual reviews are recommended. Those in noisy work environments should follow their employer's WHS screening schedule — which requires testing every 2 years.

The price of a hearing aid depends on many factors including:

• The degree and configuration of your hearing loss
• Your lifestyle and communication needs
• The size and style of the hearing aid
• The level of technology required

Hearing aids can range from $2,000 to $12,000+ for a pair. There are a number of avenues for obtaining financial assistance — including the Government Hearing Services Program, Medicare, DVA, and private health insurance. Learn more about funding options.

As an independent clinic, we carry all major hearing aid brands and have no manufacturer affiliations. We recommend devices based solely on what is clinically appropriate for your hearing, lifestyle, and budget. Our current range includes:

Yes — a full diagnostic hearing assessment is an essential first step before hearing aids are fitted. The hearing test results (audiogram) are used to program and fine-tune the hearing aids precisely to your hearing profile. Fitting hearing aids without a proper assessment risks poor outcomes and wasted expense. Learn more about why a hearing test matters.

Yes — we provide maintenance, cleaning, and repairs for hearing aids from all major brands, regardless of where they were purchased. Replacement parts and batteries are available in-clinic or can be ordered for pick-up within a few business days. Give us a call on (02) 6156 4474 to discuss your needs.

Because young children (from around 9 months) may not be able to follow the instructions required for an adult hearing assessment, Visual Reinforcement Audiometry (VRA) was developed. This method utilises the natural reflexes of an infant to turn towards the source of a sound.

For this test, the audiologist instructs the parent or carer to hold their child facing the audiologist. A sound is then played through a speaker to the side of the child to attract their attention. The child is encouraged to turn towards the speaker. This process is repeated many times with different sounds to determine the child's hearing levels. To keep the child motivated and entertained during the test, a puppet or animated toy is shown to them each time they turn their head towards the sound.

Learn more about our paediatric hearing assessment services.

We assess children from 9 months of age using Visual Reinforcement Audiometry (VRA). For older children (3–6 years) we use Play Audiometry, and for school-age children we use standard Pure Tone Audiometry adapted for their age. We see children up to 15 years of age.

For children under 9 months, or where objective testing is required, a referral to a hospital-based service may be more appropriate.

Newborn hearing screenings only detect certain types of hearing loss present at birth. Some hearing conditions develop later in childhood. If you have any concerns about your child's hearing — at any age — it is always worth having them properly assessed by an audiologist.

Tinnitus is the perception of a sound that does not come from your environment. While most people describe it as ringing, it can also be heard as buzzing, humming, thumping, static or pulsing.

The exact cause of tinnitus is unknown, however it is associated with hearing loss and may be one of the first signs of hearing damage. Tinnitus is often treatable through specialised devices or simply through behaviour management and counselling.

Learn more about our tinnitus assessment and management services.

There is currently no universal cure for tinnitus. However, the good news is that most people with tinnitus can learn to habituate to it — meaning it stops bothering them even if the sound is still present. Evidence-based management significantly improves quality of life for the vast majority of patients. We only recommend treatments backed by solid clinical evidence.

In 95% of cases, no ear drops or preparation are needed before your appointment. In cases of extremely hard or impacted wax, we may suggest a short course of softening drops prior to your appointment. We will let you know when you book if this is recommended.

Micro-suction is the safest and most widely recommended method of ear wax removal — it is the same technique used by ENT specialists. Unlike syringing, there is no water and no pressure on the eardrum. The procedure is generally comfortable and well-tolerated. You may notice a louder noise from the suction, but most patients find it painless.

It is safe to use even with perforated eardrums or grommets — unlike ear syringing.

We strongly advise against using cotton buds in the ear canal. Cotton buds push wax deeper into the canal, increasing the risk of impaction and potential damage to the eardrum. The ear canal is self-cleaning — in most cases, it requires no intervention at all.

Yes — Medicare rebates are available for diagnostic hearing assessments with a written referral from a GP, ENT specialist, paediatrician, or neurologist. The referral must be provided before your appointment. Rebates are available for pure tone audiometry, speech testing, impedance testing, and various other diagnostic services.

Learn more about all funding options.

Yes — Canberra Audiology is a registered DVA provider. Veterans holding a Gold or White DVA card may be entitled to fully funded hearing assessments, hearing aids, accessories, and ongoing audiological care. We handle DVA billing directly, so there is generally no out-of-pocket cost for eligible services.

Yes — flexible payment options are available through MediPay, with repayments starting from as little as $25 per week and no deposit required in many cases. Please ask our team about MediPay at your appointment or call us on (02) 6156 4474.