Hearing loss makes it difficult or impossible to hear speech and other sounds. There are different types of hearing loss, and they can range from mild, moderate, severe, or profound. Some types of hearing loss are temporary, and some are permanent. Around 1 in 6 Australians experience hearing loss.

The first signs of hearing loss can be hard to notice because they usually come on gradually. They might include:

• having trouble hearing in noisy places
• having trouble hearing people on the phone or if they’re not facing you
• often asking people to repeat themselves
• hearing sounds as muffled, as though people are mumbling
• needing to have the TV up louder than other people
• often missing your phone or the doorbell ringing
• hearing buzzing or ringing in your ears
• avoiding situations because you have trouble hearing

If you have one or a few of the signs mentioned above, a hearing test is recommended. 

Hearing test appointments can be performed at your home or your workplace as long as it is relatively quiet.

A hearing test for an adult usually takes around 30-45 minutes. Pure tone audiometry is used to identify your hearing threshold levels and to determine the degree, type and configuration of a hearing loss if hearing loss is present. Tympanometry, an objective test of the middle ear function using the latest equipment is also routinely performed. Speech audiometry is performed if required to check how loud speech needs to be for you to hear it.For those who have hearing loss and are wondering which hearing aid technology would be suitable for them, we perform the QuickSIN test (a valuable but significantly underused speech-in-noise test). This test provides a quick way for us to quantify your ability to hear in noise. A detailed hearing test report will be provided after the hearing test. 

$170-200 per appointment depending on the location. If you have a referral from any medical practitioner such as a GP or an ENT, you can claim back $45-$55 from Medicare.