Hearing changes can be subtle at first. You may notice that you or your child:

• Struggle to hear clearly in background noise (restaurants, shopping centres, classrooms)
• Frequently ask for repeats or say “What?” or “Pardon?”
• Turn the TV, iPad or radio up louder than others prefer
• Miss the phone, doorbell or notifications
• Hear speech as mumbled or muffled especially when the talker is facing away
• Experience tinnitus (ringing, buzzing, hissing or roaring sounds in the ears).
• Feel tired, drained or irritable after long listening situations
• Start avoiding conversations, social situations or noisy environments

If some of these sound familiar, a comprehensive hearing test is recommended. Early assessment helps prevent communication breakdowns, improves confidence and supports learning at school and performance at work.

We visit your home or workplace and set up in a quiet room. An adult hearing assessment usually takes 30–45 minutes and typically includes:

• Pure-tone audiometry
  To measure your hearing thresholds across different pitches and identify the degree, type and pattern of any hearing loss.
• Tympanometry
  To check middle-ear function (eardrum movement and middle-ear pressure) using calibrated equipment, useful for detecting fluid, eustachian tube problems or other middle-ear issues.
• Speech audiometry
  Where helpful, to assess how clearly you understand speech at comfortable levels and to see how well amplification (hearing aids) may help.
• QuickSIN speech-in-noise testing
  For people who are especially concerned about hearing in background noise, this quick test provides an objective measure of how much extra difficulty you have in noisy environments compared to typical listeners.

After the assessment, you will receive a clear, detailed written report explaining your results in plain language, along with personalised recommendations, which may include:

• Monitoring only and a suggested re-test interval
• Medical review with your GP or ENT specialist if needed
• Hearing aid options and communication strategies
• Workplace or home listening strategies to make communication easier

With your consent, we can also send a copy of the report to your GP or referrer.

How Children’s Appointments Work (Age 3+)

We can assess children at home or at school (in a quiet room such as a learning support room or office). A typical children’s hearing assessment takes around 30 minutes and includes tympanometry plus age-appropriate hearing tests.

• Ages 3–5 years: Conditioned Play Audiometry (CPA)
  We use play-based listening games (for example, putting a toy in a bucket whenever they hear a sound) to keep young children engaged while we measure hearing thresholds.
• Ages 6+ years: Button-Press Tasks
  Older children complete tasks similar to adult testing—pressing a button or raising a hand when they hear a tone.

Throughout the appointment we:

• Explain each step in child-friendly language
• Allow breaks as needed to keep your child comfortable
• Encourage a parent or carer to be present for support

You will receive a detailed report outlining:

• Your child’s hearing levels in each ear
• Any middle-ear issues such as glue ear or eardrum stiffness
• Recommendations for follow-up with your GP, ENT or other professionals if required
• Classroom and home listening strategies to support learning and communication

If there are concerns about Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) or listening difficulties in noise, we can also discuss whether a separate auditory processing disorder test is appropriate once your child is at the right age and developmental stage.
 

Hearing test appointments are $170–$200. With a referral from a medical practitioner (e.g. GP or paediatrician), you may be eligible for a Medicare rebate. If you are an NDIS participant, your hearing test may be funded by the NDIS.