Hearing Assessments
Professional Hearing Assessments for Adults and Children in Sydney's North Shore
The Hearing Centre provides professional, diagnostic hearing assessments for patients of all ages, conducted personally by an independent audiologist some with over 30 years of clinical experience.
Receive a comprehensive 60-minute clinical assessment including pure tone audiometry, speech discrimination testing, and tympanometry
Access painless, no-obligation testing with no medical referral required for self-funded private patients
Understand your diagnostic results immediately through plain English explanations and tailored, evidence-based recommendations
Call 02 9420 2300 to book your comprehensive hearing assessment across our four North Shore locations.
Are You Missing the Important Sounds in Your Daily Life?
Your brain naturally tries to fill in the auditory blanks, which requires significant cognitive energy and often leads to listening fatigue by the end of the day. A professional hearing assessment provides a highly accurate, measurable baseline of your current auditory health so you can make informed decisions about your care.
It is highly recommended to book a diagnostic hearing assessment if you notice any of the following common signs:
You frequently need to ask friends, family, or colleagues to repeat themselves
You find it increasingly difficult to follow conversations in noisy environments such as busy restaurants or family gatherings
You turn the television or radio volume significantly higher than others prefer
You experience noticeable difficulty hearing clearly on telephone calls
Family members or close friends have gently commented on your hearing difficulties
You feel mentally tired, strained, or exhausted after participating in group conversations
You find yourself avoiding social situations because communicating has become too difficult
If any of these scenarios apply to your daily life, booking a comprehensive hearing assessment is a straightforward, proactive first step. There is absolutely no obligation to proceed with treatment, and you are not committing to purchasing hearing aids simply by having your baseline hearing checked.
Gain Complete Clarity With an In-Depth Diagnostic Evaluation
Think of a clinical hearing assessment like a comprehensive eye exam for your ears. We do not just check if you can hear a sound. We test the physical mechanics of your ear, your ability to detect specific pitches, and your brain’s ability to process complex speech.
What Happens During Your 60-Minute Adult Assessment?
| Testing Stage | What the Test Involves | Clinical Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Case History Discussion | We discuss your specific hearing concerns, relevant medical history, previous occupational noise exposure, and your daily listening environments. | Helps us understand your unique lifestyle needs and tailor the assessment parameters accordingly. |
| Physical Ear Examination | We examine your ear canals using a clinical otoscope to check the physical health of your outer ear. Ear wax is removed if required. | Identifies any physical blockages like wax build-up, active infections, or structural issues that may affect test accuracy. |
| Pure Tone Audiometry | You wear calibrated headphones inside a sound-treated room and respond to tones presented at various pitches and volumes. | Maps your exact hearing thresholds across the frequency range to identify the precise type and degree of any hearing loss. |
| Speech Discrimination | You listen to spoken words in quiet and in noise and repeat what you hear back to the audiologist. | Measures how well your brain understands and decodes complex speech, which is vital for daily conversation. |
| Clinical Tympanometry | A small probe placed at the entrance to your ear canal measures the physical movement of your eardrum. | Provides crucial diagnostic information regarding middle ear function and identifies issues like fluid build-up. |
Access Transparently Priced and Fully Funded Clinical Care
You do not need a medical referral from a General Practitioner to book a self-funded hearing assessment. You can simply call our clinic and book your appointment directly. However, if you have been referred by your GP or an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist, please bring your referral letter along so we can send them a detailed diagnostic report and you can claim a portion of the test appointment.
Are You Eligible for the Government Hearing Services Program?
Through the Australian Government Hearing Services Program, eligible patients can receive a comprehensive diagnostic assessment at no out-of-pocket cost. Our administrative team will happily guide you through the eligibility check and voucher application process prior to your appointment.
Protect Your Child’s Crucial Speech and Language Development
If your child has been flagged by a routine school hearing screening programme, a full diagnostic assessment in our clinic will provide a much more detailed, accurate picture than a simple pass or fail screening tool.
Does Your Child Need a Professional Diagnostic Evaluation?
Children often cannot articulate that they are struggling to hear. As a parent, observing their behavioural responses to sound is vital.
Signs to watch for in babies and toddlers under three years old
Not visibly startling or reacting to sudden loud sounds
Not turning their head toward the source of sounds by six months of age
Not babbling or making experimental speech-like sounds by 12 months
Not responding when their name is called from behind
Exhibiting delayed speech development compared to standard milestones
Signs to watch for in school-aged children
Frequently asking “what?” or requiring instructions to be repeated multiple times
Turning up the volume on televisions or digital learning devices excessively
Exhibiting noticeable difficulty following instructions in noisy classrooms
Presenting with speech that is unclear or trailing behind expected peer development
Receiving teacher reports regarding inattention or perceived behavioural issues in class
Gentle Testing Methodologies Adapted for Over the age of 4 years
As a highly experienced audiologist, Damian and his colleagues expertly adapt all clinical testing methods to suit your child’s specific age, cognitive development, and attention span. The assessment environment is designed to be highly comfortable and non-threatening.
Play Audiometry
For children aged four to five, we turn the test into an engaging game. Your child responds to sounds through fun activities, such as placing a colourful peg in a board each time they hear a specific tone.
Standard Audiometry
For children aged five and above, the process closely mirrors adult audiometry using age appropriate instructions. Most school-aged children respond exceptionally well to standard testing using comfortable headphones.
A children’s hearing assessment typically takes between 30 to 45 minutes. Parents are actively encouraged to be present in the room throughout the entire process. There are absolutely no painful procedures involved.
Understand Your Diagnostic Results With Absolute Confidence
Immediately following your assessment, Damian and his colleagues prioritise a supportive healthcare conversation over a high-pressure sales pitch to clearly explain your diagnostic results without dense clinical jargon. Using a visual audiogram graph, we explain your results in practical, everyday terms, outlining exactly which environmental sounds you hear well, the specific speech consonants you may be missing, and how these findings relate directly to your communication struggles.
If your results indicate a permanent hearing loss, we will collaboratively discuss whether modern hearing aids or other management strategies would improve your daily quality of life. Should your diagnostic results suggest an underlying medical cause requiring further investigation, such as glue ear in a child or an asymmetrical hearing loss in an adult, we will promptly recommend a referral to an appropriate Ear, Nose and Throat specialist.
