Better health and ageing for all Australians

About Hearing

The following pages provide you with additional information on hearing and hearing loss. All of the pages are available as factsheets.

How do we hear?
To understand how you hear, it is useful to know more about the structure of your ear.
This page details the anatomy or structure of the ear and how we hear.

Hearing loss and deafness
This page describes the types of hearing loss and how these different types of hearing loss may affect you.

How is my hearing tested?
Your hearing can be tested in a number of ways, this page explains how your hearing is tested and what to expect at your hearing test.

Communication for people affected by hearing loss
This page describes how you can help yourself and other people with hearing loss by using different strategies for better communication and understanding.

Research into hearing loss
Research into hearing, hearing loss and hearing devices occurs around the world. This page provides information on the ways that the Office of Hearing Services supports research into hearing and hearing loss in Australia.

What to expect from your hearing device
Using a hearing device for the first time may feel unusual and it is likely you will have a lot of questions about how to use and look after it. This document provides you with some general information on what to expect, including how to adjust to the new sounds you will hear as well as how to look after your hearing device.

Telecoils and hearing loops
Telecoils are a useful but often under-used feature of many hearing devices. Hearing loops are used in conjunction with a telecoil to help you hear better in challenging listening situations. Read on to find out more.

Preventing hearing loss
Hearing loss is a natural part of the ageing process. However once you have lost your hearing, it won’t recover. This page describes some of the things you can do to protect your hearing.

Information and Support Services
This page provides links to other pages that contain information and support services for people with hearing loss, their families and friends