Hearing Tests

Comprehensive Hearing Tests for All Ages

At DWM Audiology, we understand the critical role hearing plays in everyday life, and offer comprehensive hearing tests and evaluations for both adults and children. Our expert audiologists are equipped with the latest technology and years of experience to ensure you or your loved one receive the best possible care, diagnosis, and management of hearing loss and other hearing-related issues.

Our Hearing Test Services

Whether you need a routine hearing assessment, suspect hearing loss, or require specialised services for tinnitus, we provide a full range of hearing tests at our Melbourne clinic, tailored to adults and children. Hearing test home visits are also available.

Hearing Tests for Adults

Hearing loss is common, especially as you age. At DWM Audiology, we offer several testing options based on your needs:

  • Hearing Screening Tests: A basic 15-minute test to detect the presence of any hearing loss.
  • Full Diagnostic Hearing Assessments: A more in-depth evaluation that lasts up to 45 minutes and provides a comprehensive understanding of your hearing health.
  • Tinnitus Evaluation: If you are experiencing ringing or noises in your ears, a tinnitus evaluation will help determine the best course of treatment, which will include a hearing assessment if not yet completed.

Our audiologists take the time to explain the results clearly, offering detailed reports and guidance for managing any hearing issues, including hearing aid options if required.

Hearing Tests for Children

Children rely on their hearing for language development, social engagement, and learning. Early detection of any hearing issues is critical for their overall growth. Our clinic provides hearing assessments for children aged 9 months and older, addressing both common and more complex hearing concerns, including:

  • Routine Screening: From birth to school age, we conduct thorough hearing assessments to ensure your child’s hearing is on track.
  • Central Auditory Processing Disorders (CAPD): We offer evaluations and can recommend clinics that specialise in diagnosing and treating children with auditory processing challenges.
  • Hyperacusis and Misophonia: For children with sound sensitivities or discomfort, we provide therapy and evaluation to help manage these conditions effectively.

FAQs

There are a number of tests used by an audiologist to assess hearing.  Pure tone audiometry measures the sensitivity of a person’s hearing across the range of sounds important for speech understanding.  This should be carried out in a sound-proof booth.

A hearing screening test is a basic test of hearing levels using pure tone audiometry.  If you are considering hearing aids, or have concerns about your hearing, a full diagnostic hearing assessment is needed.  This will include:

  • an evaluation of the health of your ears with a tympanometry test, indicating whether your ears/hearing require medical care 
  • pure tone audiometry
  • a speech discrimination test to assess your ability to hear speech clearly
  • an evaluation of your ability to tolerate loud and impact sounds 
  • an assessment of your communication needs and whether hearing aids will be of benefit to you 

Hearing aids are programmed on the basis of your hearing assessment results.  A full diagnostic assessment will enable your individual hearing and communication requirements to be assessed in depth, allowing accurate and personalised programming. 

Avoid loud noise for 16 hours prior to a hearing test. 

The hearing assessment requires concentration and time.  If you’re distracted or not feeling well, you’re more likely to miss very faint test tones.

Medicare will provide a rebate on hearing assessments if patients are referred by their GP, Ear Nose and Throat Specialist or Neurologist.  GPs may also refer as part of an EPC program, with a Medicare rebate claimable.

There is no Medicare rebate on hearing aids.  Eligible patients may be covered under NDIS or under the Hearing Services Program.  

Ideally, every 12 months – unless there is a need for more regular monitoring.

To obtain a Medicare rebate, you will need to be referred by your GP, Ear Nose and Throat Specialist or Neurologist.  GPs may also refer as part of an EPC program, with a Medicare rebate claimable.

Hearing protection should be considered for any noisy activities, for example when using power tools, for recreational shooting, motor sports, loud music – damage relates to ‘how loud, for how long, how often’.

There is a legal requirement for venues to provide protection when volume levels reach a certain level What are the noise dose limits?

If you have to shout to be understood when listening to music, the likelihood is that the volume level is potentially damaging.  The risk of damage varies from person to person.

Yes! As long as the volume is brought down below to a safe listening level. This requires correct insertion of the ear plugs and a volume level that is able to be reduced to safe levels.

There is a range of filtered ear plugs that have been designed for musicians.  These are available in custom or non-custom forms. The filters have a flat attenuation (dampening) response across the frequency range, which significantly reduces the high frequency distortion found with solid plugs, and can provide varying levels of protection. 

Learn more about hearing protection for musicians

Most hearing tests offered free of charge are a basic screening test.  If you are considering hearing aids, or have concerns about your hearing, a full diagnostic hearing assessment is needed.  

Hearing aids are programmed on the basis of your hearing assessment results.  An inadequate hearing assessment will restrict the accuracy of the hearing aid programming and the benefit obtained.  A full diagnostic assessment will enable your individual hearing and communication requirements to be assessed in depth, allowing accurate and personalised programming. 

All this takes time, and there are costs involved. We prefer to keep our charges transparent and do not absorb the assessment costs into our hearing aid prices.

A full diagnostic hearing assessment will include:

  • an evaluation of the health of your ears, indicating whether your ears/hearing require medical care 
  • a detailed hearing test
  • a speech discrimination test to assess your ability to hear speech clearly
  • an evaluation of your ability to tolerate loud and impact sounds 
  • whether hearing aids will be of benefit to you 


Our Services