FAQs

Hearing Australia can be found in more than 600 locations across Australia, so we are sure to have a centre near you. Click here to locate your nearest Hearing Australia centre. 

Please contact us here and fill out your preferred contact details in the online form provided. Alternatively, you can be connected to your nearest Hearing Australia Centre by calling 134 432. 

If you have changed your address or other contact details, please call 134 432 to be connected to your nearest Hearing Australia centre. Alternatively, you can fill out the contact us form. 

Click here to book an appointment. Or you can call us on 134 432

You can find our Return and Refund Policy here. 

You are eligible if you are an Australian citizen or a permanent resident and you meet the eligibility criteria. We provide services to aged pensioners and most veterans. 

Hearing Australia receives funding through the Community Service Obligation (CSO) component of the Hearing Services Program to provide hearing services and devices to eligible people. To learn more about the technology that is provided to children, teens and young adults aged under 26 years, and the philosophy that informs the policy, click here. 

A voucher entitles eligible adults to obtain government-subsidised hearing services, which can include appropriate listening devices. See the voucher page for more information on if you are eligible. 

You can find further information about private hearing services providers through the Audiological Society of Australia visit www.audiology.asn.au or the Office of Hearing Services, visit https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/hearing-services-program. 

Hearing Australia offers a repairs service for clients with a valid hearing services card at all permanent hearing centres. Find your nearest Hearing Australia centre for repairs. 

Hearing Australia offers a batteries service to clients with a valid hearing services card at all permanent hearing centres. If you would like to contact us about repairs, please click here for contact details. 

If you have a voucher under the Australian Government Hearing Services Program, Hearing Australia has a wide range of government-subsidised hearing devices available at no cost to you. An optional annual maintenance fee applies. If you choose a top-up hearing device with a higher level of technology and features, you will have to contribute towards the cost of that device. 

That's a really common question we get at Hearing Australia. People notice small changes in their hearing before they consider getting help. You might need hearing aids if you find yourself asking people to repeat themselves often, or if family members comment that your TV volume is too loud. Our clients tell us they struggle to follow conversations in restaurants or family gatherings. These are all signs that it might be time for a hearing check.

At Hearing Australia, we've been helping Australians hear better for over 75 years, and we offer free 15-mins adult hearing checks that can give you a clearer picture of your hearing health. It's always better to address hearing concerns early, as untreated hearing loss can affect your social connections and overall wellbeing.

At Hearing Australia, we aim to make it as straightforward and simple as possible.

You could start with a free 15-mins no obligation adult hearing check to see if there are any concerns. If we identify hearing loss, we'll recommend a comprehensive hearing assessment at one of our hearing centres. 

During your consultation, we'll have a chat about your lifestyle, the environments where you typically communicate, what hearing challenges you have, what your hearing goals are and of course your budget. This helps us understand what matters most to you.

Based on your specific hearing profile and personal preferences, we'll then recommend appropriate hearing aid options. We won't overwhelm you with technical details. Instead, we'll focus on which features you’ll benefit from to make the biggest difference in your daily life.

Once you've selected your hearing aids, we'll fit them to your ears and program them to address your specific hearing loss. This isn't just a one-and-done appointment. We'll work with you over follow-up visits to fine-tune the settings until they're right so you can start hearing much better and living your best life!

And that's just the beginning of our relationship. We'll be with you every step of the way to ensure you're getting the most from your hearing aids. We've helped many Australians through this journey and we’d love to help you too.

Hearing devices benefit many people. However, no hearing device can restore your hearing to normal. The benefits depend on the degree of your hearing loss.

Do not be concerned about becoming dependent. A hearing device will help you communicate better and enjoy life more. Many people wonder how they ever managed without it. 

This will vary from person to person because every person is different. It takes some time to adjust to listening, and to hearing everything louder. Hearing devices amplify sounds. Following a conversation in a noisy place can be very difficult. With practice, listening can become an enjoyable experience again.

At Hearing Australia, we're committed to making better hearing accessible to everyone. We offer a range of options at different price points, and there are several ways to make them more affordable.

The prices vary based on the model, level of technology and features. The price increases as more technology and features are included. The good news is that you could be eligible for financial support through the Australian Government Hearing Services Program. If you’re an Australian citizen or permanent resident aged 26 and older and hold a pensioner concession card, a Veterans Affairs Gold or White health card, or you receive a sickness allowance from Centrelink, you may be eligible to access our Essential hearing aid at no cost, or if you’d prefer a model with a higher level of technology, you could get these partially subsidised. 

To help with managing the cost, we offer flexible payment plans through a third party. Through this program, you can spread the cost of your hearing aids over 48 months.

In our 75 years of experience at Hearing Australia, we've found that hearing aids are truly an investment in quality of life. Our clients tell us they wish they hadn't waited so long to address their hearing concerns.

Finding the right style is an important part of your hearing journey. At Hearing Australia, we take a personalised approach to helping you select the right option and we offer several styles to suit different preferences and needs. The Receiver in the Ear (RIE) style has become very popular among our clients. It's discreet, sitting nearly hidden behind your ear with a tiny wire connecting to a receiver in your ear canal. Our new XG range includes what's called a microRIE which is a small rechargeable option. This is suitable for a wide range of hearing losses.

If you don’t want anything to sit outside your ear, we have ‘in the ear’ options called Completely in the Canal (CIC). 

The right choice depends on several factors we'll discuss together: the severity of your hearing loss, your dexterity for handling hearing devices, your lifestyle needs, and of course, your personal preferences about appearance.

It’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. We've found that what matters most isn't just how the hearing aid looks, but how well it addresses your specific hearing needs and fits into your lifestyle. During your consultation, we'll talk through these options and even let you see and handle different styles so you can make an informed decision.

The different technology levels are designed to match different lifestyles and hearing needs, and you would notice practical differences in your daily experiences.

With our Premium model, you'd experience natural hearing across the widest range of environments, like if you attend live shows, dine at busy restaurants, or maybe play in a community orchestra. The technology in these models would give you improved clarity in complex listening situations where multiple people are speaking, and background noise is present.

Our Essential range would be ideal if you're generally in less challenging listening environments. For example, if you enjoy watching television or speaking with friends or family at home, this level will allow you to enjoy those activities.  

For anyone who has had difficulty hearing over the phone, our entire range offers Bluetooth^® streaming from compatible mobile phones. Check your mobile phones compatibility here.

During your 2-week trial period with us, we encourage you to test your chosen device in different environments, so you can confirm your selection meets your needs. 

Phone communication difficulties are extremely common for people with hearing loss, and we're pleased to tell you that all our hearing aids offer excellent solutions for clearer phone conversations.

Our hearing aids support hands-free calling from certain smartphone models, allowing you to answer calls with a simple double tap on your hearing aid. The call audio streams directly to both ears, which can significantly improve speech understanding compared to holding a phone to one ear. The hearing aid’s microphones pick up your voice clearly for the person you're speaking with. 

Top-up devices have extra features. They are made in a range of styles and include the smallest hearing devices available on the market. These very small hearing devices can be difficult for some people to manage, or they may not suit the degree of your hearing loss. Your Hearing Australia Audiologist will discuss with you the features and technology of the top-up hearing devices and give you professional advice as to how they may benefit you. 

You can deposit your aid at any Hearing Australia centre or hearing aid bank.

Click here for more information. 

Hearing Australia has a range of assistive listening devices available for purchase. If you would like to contact us about purchasing one of these devices, click here for contact details. 

Loss of hearing is often a gradual process. Hearing loss is invisible and more common than people think. Some of the early warning signs of hearing loss are: you can hear but not understand; you find it hard to hear in noisy situations or groups of people; you think people mumble; you need turn the TV up louder than others; or, you don’t always hear the doorbell or the phone. 

There are certainly more options available today than ever before. What sets Hearing Australia apart is our unique combination of experience, expertise, and client-centred approach that's been refined over 75 years of helping Australians hear better.

We have experience working with people of all ages and hearing needs. Our clinicians receive continuous professional development to stay at the forefront of hearing technology and rehabilitation techniques. We also take the time to thoroughly assess not just your hearing levels, but your specific communication needs, budget and lifestyle requirements, and personal preferences.

Our profit-for-purpose approach means that while we operate commercially, our profits go back to funding research on hearing loss and delivering services to those in need. Our focus is always on finding the right hearing solution for you. That's why we offer our free no-obligation 2-week trial period, giving you ample time to experience our hearing aids in all your real-world environments. Finally, we have over 180 hearing centres nationwide, and you can find your nearest location on our website. 

This is an issue that can be discussed with a Genetic Counsellor. For information on genetic counselling services in Australia click here. 

An audiogram is used to display the results of a hearing test. The softest sounds you can hear are your hearing thresholds and these are marked on an audiogram. Hearing tests can tell you the type and degree of hearing loss you may have. 

Click here for more information.

Click here for more information on cochlear implants.

Noise is considered excessive when you must use a raised voice or shout in order to be able to speak to someone at an arm’s length. It is important to note that a hearing impairment does not protect a person from further noise damage nor does it give a person less susceptibility to noise-induced hearing damage. In fact, it is quite critical to protect what hearing remains.

Examine quieter alternative work practices. The ultimate outcome is to help create a safer, low-noise, working environment. 

Click here to find out more about prevention.

Earplugs come in a variety of sizes, shapes and noise protection ratings. The soft foam versions found in chemists are for general use and are good value for money. For more specific protection such as earplugs customised for musicians or industrial work environments, a hearing provider will need to be contacted to make the plugs. 

Earplugs require an impression taken of a person’s ear and filters inserted to eliminate particular parts of the frequency spectrum of sound depending on their use. Hearing Australia does not make noise protection earplugs but we discuss noise protection needs with our clients and give advice on where to source the best solution. 

Earplugs and earmuffs do not affect your hearing, they protect your hearing from damage. They do not make your hearing more or less sensitive to noise but help avoid a hearing loss. 

Click here for careers.

To become an Audiologist you will need to complete a Master of Clinical Audiology. In Australia this course is available at six universities: Flinders University, South Australia; Melbourne University, Victoria; Macquarie University, New South Wales; University of Western Australia, Western Australia; University of Queensland, Queensland; and Charles Darwin University, Northern Territory. 

The Master of Clinical Audiology (MCAud) course is a two-year full-time program, which includes coursework and supervised clinical practicum of around 200 hours (varies between universities). There are no specific prerequisite undergraduate subjects, but relevant undergraduate degrees include linguistics, psychology, speech and hearing science, biomedical science or physical and behavioural sciences. 

Acceptance into the program is based on good grades in any undergraduate university degree and an interview to determine if the student has a good grasp of the requirements for the profession of audiology. 

Audiometrists hold a qualification from a Registered Training Organisation such as TAFE NSW which involves two (2) years of formal study (Diploma of Hearing Device Prescription and Evaluation or Diploma of Audiometry) followed by a  Supervision Program and Competency Examination after which they may be considered fully qualified.  

Audiometrists are Hearing Care professionals who specialise in the non-medical assessment and management of communication difficulties caused by hearing loss.  By conducting clinical hearing assessments, an Audiometrist will determine if a hearing loss is present, the nature and degree of any loss, how this may be impeding the client’s communication ability, and prescribe or dispense hearing aids.