Choosing a Hearing Service Provider

There are many clinics that provide services including hearing checks, hearing tests and hearing aids but how do you know which service to choose? Below are some considerations that may assist you to choose a hearing service provider and some suggested questions to raise with your provider.

Considerations When Choosing a Hearing Service Provider

Privately Owned / Manufacturer Owned Clinics

There are many different hearing aid manufacturers that provide hearing aids to clinics across Australia. Some clinics are privately owned and are independent of any one hearing aid manufacturer. Alternatively, some clinics are directly owned by the hearing aid manufacturer and therefore may only stock that manufacturer’s brand of hearing aids. There are advantages in both of these cases but if you wish to trial a hearing aid, it can impact the range of hearing aids available and potentially the associated costs.

Questions to Ask:

Is your clinic privately owned or manufacturer owned?
Do you offer a range of hearing aid makes from different manufacturers?

Permanent or Visiting Site

Some hearing clinics are not staffed by clinicians (such as audiologists or audiometrists) on a full-time basis. The clinician may only visit the site one or two days per week and this may limit their availability.

Questions to Ask:

How often is there a clinician at this clinic?
Will I be able to see the same clinician at each appointment?

On average, how far in advance do I need to book an appointment?

Audiologists and Audiometrists

Both audiologists and audiometrists are hearing care professionals. Some clinics may be staffed by audiologists, audiometrists or a combination of both. An audiologist is a university graduate who has extensive specialist training at post-graduate level (Audiological Society of Australia, 2014). An audiometrist holds a qualification from a Registered Training Organisation involving two years of formal study followed by two years on-the-job training (Hearing Aid Audiometrist Society of Australia, 2014). You should consider the complexity of your hearing needs and discuss these with the clinic to ensure their staff are appropriately trained to meet your needs.

Questions to Ask:

What types of hearing care professionals staff this clinic?
Will your staff be able to meet my needs?

Australian Government Hearing Services Program

Some people, such as Pensioner Concession Card Holders and Veterans, are eligible to access free or subsidised services via the Australian Government Hearing Services Program. To find out if you are eligible you can visit or call 1800 500 726. Some (but not all) clinics are accredited providers of this program. If you are eligible to access services through this program, you should discuss your entitlements with the clinic.

Questions to Ask:

Are you an accredited provider of the Australian Government Hearing Services Program?
Am I eligible to access services through this program and, if so, what are my entitlements?

Hearing Aid Trials and Refunds

Most clinics will offer an obligation-free hearing aid trial to you prior to purchasing hearing aids. This provides an opportunity to try the aids in different listening situations, usually over several weeks. Some clinics may also offer a refund policy if you purchase hearing aids but later wish to return them.

Questions to Ask:

Does your clinic offer a hearing aid trial period?
If so, what are the conditions of the trial? Are there any costs or obligations?
Can I try more than one type of hearing aid so I can compare different models?
What is your hearing aid refund policy?

Hearing Aid Costs

Different clinics will offer different pricing and service models. You should be aware that after purchasing your hearing aids, it is likely that you will require follow up appointments to adjust and fine-tune your hearing aids. If you are purchasing hearing aids, some clinics may offer an all-inclusive package that includes the hearing aid purchase costs and a certain number of follow up appointments. Others may require you to purchase the hearing aids and then pay separately for each follow up appointment you require.

Questions to Ask:

Do you offer a package that includes the costs of the hearing aids and any follow up appointments required? If so, how many follow up appointments are included in this cost?
How much do additional follow up appointments cost?

Hearing Aid Repairs, Loans and Supplies

Some clinics may need to send your hearing aids off-site for repair if something goes wrong with them but some may also offer a service on-site for minor repairs. Some clinics may also stock hearing aid accessories on-site. Additionally, some clinics will offer a loan aid program and will be able to temporarily loan you hearing aids while yours are being repaired. This is especially important if you have a more severe hearing loss and don’t want to be without your aids for an extended period.

Questions to Ask:

Do you offer hearing aid repairs on-site?
If you need to send my hearing aid off-site for repair, how long might this take?
Do you offer a hearing aid loan program? If so, what are the costs and conditions?

Want to Know More?

For more information on finding a hearing service provider, you can read our fact sheet Signs of Hearing Loss and Taking Action.

Guide Dogs Hearing Services

Guide Dogs Hearing Services provides assistance and support to any adult who has a hearing impairment or who has both a vision and hearing loss. We provide a range of individual services, group training programs, products and advice. Appointments are necessary. To contact us, email or telephone (08) 8203 8394.

This information is for educational and communication purposes only and should not be construed as personal medical advice. If you have any further questions, please contact us or consult your health professional.

IS613 v2.0Publish Date: 24 August 2016 Uncontrolled