Make an appointment
For an adult
Find a provider in your area and make an appointment.
You can:
- bring a family member or friend with you
- ask for an interpreter, if you need one.
For a child
Find a state or territory government funded service and make an appointment for a free assessment.
You may also be able to see a private provider, at a cost. Use our directory to find a provider near you.
Before your appointment
For adults
Before your first appointment think about what issues you have noticed with your hearing and how you would like to address your concerns.
Read our information booklet.
For children
If the appointment is for a child, you may be asked about:
- whether they’ve had a serious illness such as meningitis
- any head injuries
- any history of ear infections
- whether you’ve been told that they need hearing aids.
Think about your child’s hearing issues. A useful resource to help you is Phonak’s list of questions.
Visit Hearing Australia for more information about hearing loss in children and young adults.
At your appointment
Your clinician will start with a thorough hearing assessment, to determine the extent of your hearing loss.
Your clinician will:
- discuss your hearing health history
- discuss your hearing goals and needs
- explain any hearing test results to ensure you understand your hearing loss
- provide tactics and strategies to improve communication
- make recommendations for managing your hearing loss.
Advice about devices
If you need a hearing device, your clinician will help you work out what hearing device is best for your needs. They might take an impression of your ear to make sure your device fits perfectly.
They will recommend a fully subsidised hearing device, but may also offer you the option of a partially subsidised hearing device. Fully subsidised devices meet most hearing needs, but partially subsidised devices might have extra features.
If you are eligible for Community Service Obligations (CSO), you might also receive:
- more frequent appointments
- communication training and support services
- fully subsidised hearing devices of a higher level of technology.
Making a decision
If you are unsure about getting a device, or your clinician doesn’t recommend one, you can still have your hearing reviewed annually, at no cost. Your clinician may be able to provide you with strategies to improve your hearing.
You don’t have to agree to having a hearing device or decide right away. Your clinician will give you a quote so that you can compare devices and costs.
You can take the time to think about your options or ask your clinician whether they offer free hearing aid trials.
If you decide to get a hearing device, it will need to be fitted correctly.