Choosing an audiologist is about more than just finding someone to check your ears. It is about finding a partner for your health journey, someone who can look after you hear from “Twinkle to Wrinkle.”
Whether you are booking an appointment for your six-month-old or considering hearing aids for yourself, the quality of care varies significantly between clinics. To ensure you are getting the comprehensive medical focus you deserve, here are the four most important questions you should ask before booking your appointment.
- “Are you truly independent, or is your clinic owned by a manufacturer?”
This is perhaps the most critical question regarding the advice you will receive. Hearing-aid manufacturers or large corporate groups own many clinics in Australia. In these settings, the clinician may be restricted to prescribing devices from a specific parent company.
Why it matters:
At The Audiology Place, we are 100% independent. We are not tied to any specific brand of equipment or hearing aids. This means when we recommend a solution, we do so because it is genuinely the best fit for your unique lifestyle and hearing profile, not because of a corporate contract. We can ensure all patient needs are met with a completely customised approach.
- “What level of qualification does my clinician hold?”
Hearing health is complex. It involves physics, medicine, psychology, and technology. You want to ensure the person managing your hearing has the highest level of training possible.
Why it matters:
In Australia, the term “audiologist” can cover a range of qualification levels. It is perfectly reasonable to ask if your clinician holds a Doctorate.
I am proud to hold a Doctor of Audiology (AuD) from A.T. Still University in Arizona, along with a Master’s in Clinical Audiology and a Bachelor of Speech and Hearing Science from Macquarie University. With over 20 years of experience, I bring diagnostic rigour to the clinic that ensures we treat the person, not just the audiogram.
- “Do you test Otoacoustic Emissions (OAEs)?”
A standard hearing test usually involves raising your hand or pressing a button when you hear a beep. While useful, this is a subjective test that only tells us part of the story. To truly understand the health of the inner ear, we need to look closer.
Why it matters:
OAEs allow us to test how your hearing is working beyond your ability to hear a beep.
This diagnostic test measures the response of a specific type of hair cell in your cochlea (inner ear). It is objective, meaning it does not rely on your response. We use OAEs for patients of all ages, from infants to adults, to detect early signs of damage that a standard beep test might miss. It is a staple of our advanced diagnostics here in Forestville.
- “Do you perform Extended High Frequency testing?”
Standard hearing tests often stop assessing pitch at 8,000 Hz. However, human hearing—and the richness of sound—extends much further than that.
Why it matters:
If you have Tinnitus, Hyperacusis, or difficulty hearing speech in noise, testing the standard frequencies is often not enough. At The Audiology Place, our cutting-edge equipment allows us to test high frequencies to give us a complete picture of your auditory health. This data is crucial for programming hearing aids accurately and diagnosing complex conditions such as Auditory Processing Disorders. We can also pick up asymmetries between the ears that provide useful diagnostics beyond a regular audiogram.
Experience the Difference in Forestville
You deserve a hearing care experience that makes you feel at home. Our clinic on Starkey Street is designed to be a spa-like, relaxing environment where we take the time to answer these questions and more.
Whether you need safe wax removal, a paediatric assessment, or a second opinion on hearing aids, we are here to help the whole family.
