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
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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
www.hearingservices.gov.au 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
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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 onsite. 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
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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
[email protected] 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.
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© 2014 Guide Dogs SA/NT
Uncontrolled
when printed
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