Hearing Tests

Comprehensive Hearing Tests for All Ages

At DWM Audiology, we understand the critical role hearing plays in everyday life, and provide comprehensive hearing assessments 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 best practice evaluation, diagnosis, care and management of your hearing loss and hearing-related issues.

Our Hearing Test Services

Whether you suspect you have a hearing loss, need a routine hearing assessment, or require specialised services for tinnitus diagnosis and evaluation, 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

At DWM Audiology, we provide a range of hearing test appointment options based on your needs:

  • Hearing Screening Tests: A basic 15-minute test to detect the presence of a hearing loss.
  • Full Diagnostic Hearing Assessments: An in-depth 45 minute evaluation to provide a comprehensive understanding of your hearing and ear health.  If you are experiencing ringing or other noises in your ears, diagnosis and evaluation of your tinnitus will determine the best approach to investigation, treatment and therapy.  This is included as part of a full diagnostic hearing assessment.
  • An in-depth 90 minute tinnitus evaluation and therapy appointment is available if your tinnitus is causing distress and anxiety.  This will include a hearing assessment, if this has not already been carried out.
  • A 90 minute hearing assessment appointment is needed if you are considering the purchase of hearing aids, to allow time to discuss the range of options available. 

Our audiologists take the time to explain the results clearly, providing information, guidance and support in managing hearing issues, including recommendation for hearing aids as required.

We work in a multidisciplinary team approach, so provide detailed reports and guidance to your health professionals. 

Hearing Tests for Children

Children rely on their hearing for speech and language development, social engagement, and learning.  Early detection of any hearing issues is critical.  Our clinic provides thorough and detailed assessments of hearing and ear health for children aged 9 months and older, addressing both common and more complex hearing concerns.  We can provide:

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

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 – for details see the information under Hearing Protection at Work.

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