Hearing Aids & Assistive Devices
We are a multi brand hearing aid clinic. We sell, repair and program all hearing aids, old or new. Our audiologists have over 40 years combined experience. If you still have that old hearing aid in the drawer, it may be worth paying us a visit. You will be surprised what an experienced audiologist can do to improve your hearing with any hearing device.
We can also pair your mobile phone to hearing aids and offer tutorials on programming your Apple AirPods Pro® for your hearing loss so that you may not even need hearing aids.
Hearing Aids
For a brief summary of hearing aid types click on the video below. Its a good introduction!
The Hearing Rehabilitation Process
Successful hearing results rely on a number of factors to be considered by the audiologist before deciding to implement appropriate technology and techniques which may or may not include a hearing aid. This process is an exchange of experiences and knowledge between patient and audiologist.
At Healthy Hearing & Balance Care we expect that a patient who engages in the hearing rehabilitation process with us is someone who is experiencing difficulties and is serious and ready to take the next step. This person comes to our clinic based on the trust in our expertise and is committed to working with us towards achieving his or her goals.
If you choose to engage in the hearing rehabilitation process at our clinic you will undertake a series of diagnostic hearing and ear function tests to ascertain the origin, characteristics and prognosis of your hearing loss so that your rehabilitation plan can be customized for your profile. The appropriate hearing instrument, when required, will be selected according to your needs and budget.
How to choose a hearing instrument when you really need one?
Healthy Hearing & Balance Care’s audiologists have access to all hearing instruments available worldwide. Independent audiologists have hearing instrument retailing rights and buy directly from the manufacturers’ distributors.
There are many different hearing aids which may be suitable for the rehabilitation of any one individual making the selection process very confusing for the consumer. Our preference is to select the most reliable, efficient and economical model for each of our patient’s needs, regardless of brand. If you however, have a brand preference we are happy to oblige as long as it is suitable for your audiological profile.
After it has been established that a hearing aid should be part of your hearing rehabilitation process we will help you to select the best available options for your budget and encourage you to browse the internet to become familiar with the technology to help you make an informed decision.
If you decide to purchase your instrument elsewhere we are happy to engage in the rehabilitation process with you ensuring that your pre-selected instrument will provide the best results for your needs.
Off the shelf hearing aids
These hearing aids are worn behind the ear on the top of the pinna with a tube or wire connecting the instrument into the ear canal before reaching the eardrum. Also known as “receiver in the canal” hearing aids (RIC, RIE, RITE), these off the shelf devices are the most prescribed devices at present. They are very popular amongst dispensers due to their flexibility to be instantly fitted when a potential candidate walks through the door.
They are modular instruments with receiver powers of various degrees. Different size tubes or wires and ear tips can be readily assembled and programmed to an individual’s anatomy and hearing loss on the spot using the manufacturer’s software. The microphone of these hearing aids sits on the top of the ear. They usually do not require any customised parts such as ear moulds. This technology has made the fitting of hearing aids much easier leading to the advent of online sales. Sometimes patients are led to believe that these are the best, if not the only option.
Custom hearing aids
These hearing aids fit inside the ear canal with no external part sitting behind the ear. They are made based on a physical impression of the individual’s ear which allows a cast of the ear to be built in order to assemble the hearing aid. These instruments are individually made by the manufacturer and are available in different sizes depending on the anatomical characteristics of each individual ear. The choice of size is also based on the individual’s dexterity to handle a smaller device. The smallest size is completely invisible sitting deep inside the ear canal (IIC) while the largest covers the entire outer ear (ITE).
Healthy Hearing & Balance Care audiologists have long been advocates of completely in the canal hearing aids (CIC). This style is our first choice whenever suitable for an individual’s hearing loss, ear canal’s size and manual dexterity. They provide a more natural perception of sound due to the microphone placed right inside the ear canal, mimicking normal hearing physiology. This style facilitates sound localisation and is straightforward to use on the telephone and with headphones.
Custom hearing aids cannot be purchased online as a consultation with the audiologist is needed to assess the anatomical characteristics and to take an impression of the ear canal.
Disposable hearing aids
Disposable extended wear hearing aids, brand name Lyric by Phonak, are inserted by the audiologist in the clinic under a microscope and remain in the ear 24/7. At the end of its battery life (up to 4 months), the hearing aid is removed by the audiologist in the clinic, totally disposed of and replaced with a completely new unit.
It offers an advantage for those with dexterity problems who have difficulties handling the insertion and removal of small hearing aids and battery replacement. The disadvantages are the high ongoing costs, increased risk of ear infection and bleeding, as well as the possibility of the battery running out before your next appointment to obtain a replacement unit.
Water resistance
Both disposable and conventional “deep inside the ear canal” styles are not fully waterproof but can be used in the shower and while swimming on the surface, providing a swimming cap or an earplug is used to protect the hearing aid. Most “over the counter” hearing aids have a certain degree of water resistance but immersion in water is not recommended.
Disposable Hearing Aid Batteries
All hearing devices are operated by batteries which are easy to replace. The smaller the aid the shorter its battery life. The size of the battery depends on the size of the hearing aid. Battery replacement is usually required every 3 to 10 days, depending on size and power drained by the hearing aid. Sound streaming from mobile phones, tablets, remote microphones, computers and television increased the battery drainage reducing its life, requiring more frequent replacements.
Rechargeable Hearing Aids
The most important innovation in recent times has been the release of rechargeable hearing aid batteries. Rechargeable instruments come with a battery charger, much like a mobile phone. The charge lasts for up to 48 hours, depending on the model, and the battery life span is predicted to be 4 years.
This may be a very convenient feature for those with dexterity problems to handling and replacing a small battery. The disadvantage is that rechargeable batteries have a much shorter life compared to disposables and one needs to remember to recharge it every day.
At the end of the inbuilt battery life the hearing aid will need to be sent back to the manufacturer for replacement.
Hearing Rehabilitation Service Fees
Fees for hearing rehabilitation services in Australia are most commonly bundled into one package where a large sum is charged to cover the hearing aids and all the assessments, fitting, programming and ongoing services for a period varying from 6 months up to 3 years. This approach is misleading because it gives the impression that you are paying for the hearing aid only and all the other services and procedures, essential for a hearing aid to work, are offered for free. This common pricing strategy also means that those who acquire a hearing aid and are less dependent on the audiologist for their ongoing hearing health will pay far more than those who need more frequent visits to the clinic to be able to manage their hearing loss.
Since 2011, Healthy Hearing & Balance Care has adopted an unbundled fee structure. This means that all the services required for a successful hearing rehabilitation program have been itemised and charged according to its provision to each individual patient. This also means that the price of the actual hearing aid is lower as the services and costs are no longer bundled together. Patients are only charged for the procedures they require and pay for each service as they receive it. We try to keep our prices as low as possible and also ensure we can provide much needed audiological services to our community.
Our Hearing Rehabilitation Policy
Hearing aids in Australia are commonly offered on a return for credit basis with a trial period of around 4 weeks. We also follow a 4 week hearing aid trial policy although we do not fully agree with this principle. The reason we do not agree is that as highly qualified and experienced professionals, our audiologists are capable of guiding our patients in making the appropriate decision regarding the most suitable device for their needs.
Successful results rely on a number of factors
The appropriate technology and features of a hearing instrument.
The professional expertise used to select the appropriate device.
Expert programming of the hearing aid to suit the patient’s condition and verification of the results and rehabilitation protocols.
Choosing the Best Options for Your Situation
You may choose to buy your hearing aid elsewhere and we will be happy to include the device in your rehabilitation plan. However, we may not be able to honour the warranty, the authenticity and reliability of a product not sourced by us.
If you are serious about your hearing and want a successful result we will be happy to provide our itemized list of procedures and fees involved in this process.
You may also wish to browse the internet to become familiar with available hearing aid technology to help you make an informed decision prior to your first consultation with our audiologists.
Website links of reputable hearing aid manufacturers.
Assistive Listening Devices can make hearing easier
Ask about the hearing aid accessories right for your situation.
Healthy Hearing & Balance Care also offer a range of devices that complement your hearing instrument to help improve hearing capacity in more challenging situations such as in the presence of background noise, in large auditoriums and on the telephone.
These assistive listening devices are used in conjunction with either conventional or implantable hearing instruments and can be wired or wirelessly connected using bluetooth, infra-red and 2.4GHz technology.
Many hearing aid models offer the option to wirelessly connect to smartphones, tablets and personal music players.
Telecoil to connections to public and personal loop systems are also available in most conventional and implantable hearing aids.
Contact Form
If you have an enquiry or would like to make an appointment, please call our clinic on (02) 9387 3599. Alternatively, please complete the form below.