Services
Complete Audiology and Hearing Services in Sydney's North Shore
The Hearing Centre provides an extensive range of professional audiology services across four Sydney North Shore locations, delivered personally by an independent audiologist with over 30 years of clinical experience.
Access thorough hearing assessments for adults and children to pinpoint your exact auditory capabilities
Receive unbiased hearing aid fittings from all major global brands without restrictive manufacturer ties or sales quotas
Access full-service support including custom ear protection, tinnitus management, and rapid device repairs
Call 02 9420 2300 to book your detailed hearing assessment today.
What’s On This Page
Are You Getting the Unbiased Clinical Care Your Hearing Deserves?
Discover Extensive Hearing Services to Support Your Daily Communication
Pinpoint Your Exact Capabilities With a Diagnostic Adult Assessment
Protect Your Child’s Development With Gentle Paediatric Testing
Access Fully Funded Government Services for Eligible Pensioners
Find the Perfect Hearing Device From All Major Global Brands
Support Your Daily Comfort With Targeted Tinnitus Management
Prevent Permanent Damage With Custom Ear Protection Moulds
Minimise Your Downtime With Fast In-Clinic Device Repairs
Proactive Hearing Care Actively Protects Your Long Term Cognitive Health
What Can You Expect During Your Initial Diagnostic Appointment?
Get Clear Answers to Your Most Common Audiology Questions
Are You Getting the Unbiased Clinical Care Your Hearing Deserves?
We provide an extensive suite of clinical hearing services designed to accurately diagnose your hearing health and provide targeted management solutions. The audiology industry in Australia features many large corporate chains owned directly by hearing aid manufacturers. Visiting a manufacturer-owned clinic often means your choices are restricted strictly to the specific brands that the parent company produces.
By choosing our locally owned practice, you gain several distinct clinical advantages designed to prioritise your health over corporate targets.
100% Independent Unbiased Care
We operate completely free from manufacturer ownership or restrictive brand contracts. We recommend the exact acoustic solution your ears actually need based purely on clinical evidence and your personal lifestyle goals
Unrestricted Global Device Selection
We access the major hearing aid brands to find the best possible technological match for your unique audiogram rather than fulfilling a sales quota for a single brand.
Consistent Clinical Expertise
Damian O’Connor or his colleagues conduct every single assessment, fitting, and follow-up appointment personally. You will never be handed off to a different clinician or a junior staff member who is unfamiliar with your specific medical history unless requested and urgent.
Advanced Academic Credentials
Damian brings over three decades of dedicated clinical experience to his patients. He holds tertiary qualifications in Clinical Audiology and maintains full professional membership with Audiology Australia. His staff are also fully accredited and expert Audiologists.
Trusted Government Accreditation
We are a highly trusted accredited provider for the Australian Government Hearing Services Program, allowing us to deliver fully funded care to eligible local pensioners and veterans.
Transparent Clinical Advice
If your assessment reveals that hearing aids are not the right choice for you right now, we will tell you honestly. We prioritise long-term patient relationships over short-term ones.
Discover Extensive Hearing Services to Support Your Daily Communication
Our core philosophy is that effective hearing care requires an unhurried, highly detailed approach. We take the time to understand exactly how your hearing impacts your daily life, your social connections, and your professional environment before recommending any intervention strategies.
Pinpoint Your Exact Capabilities With a Diagnostic Adult Assessment
An adult hearing assessment takes approximately 60 minutes of dedicated clinical time. This thorough evaluation goes far beyond a simple screening test to provide a detailed diagnostic picture of your entire auditory system.
To ensure complete transparency and clinical accuracy, your assessment follows a structured testing pathway.
Your audiologist will explain your diagnostic results in plain english and openly discuss your available options. Your assessment is completely painless, if requested your results are yours to keep, and there is never any obligation to purchase hearing aids following your test.
Self-funded patients do not require a medical referral to book an assessment. If your diagnostic results indicate a need for further medical investigation, we will promptly refer you back to your GP and recommend a local Ear, Nose and Throat specialist review.
| Assessment Stage | What Happens | Clinical Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Case History Discussion | We review your specific communication struggles, daily listening environments, and relevant medical background. | Helps us understand your lifestyle needs and identify any genetic or environmental risk factors. |
| Otoscopic Examination | We conduct a physical ear examination using a lighted otoscope to check the ear canal and eardrum. Ear wax is removed if required. | Identifies physical blockages like wax impaction, fluid build-up, or structural abnormalities. |
| Pure Tone Audiometry | You listen to various tones and indicate when you hear the softest sounds. | Maps your exact hearing thresholds across a wide range of frequencies to create your personal audiogram. |
| Speech Discrimination Testing | We evaluate how clearly your brain processes and repeats spoken words in both quiet and noisy environments. | Determines your practical ability to understand complex conversation rather than just detecting raw volume. |
| Tympanometry | We introduce gentle air pressure changes into the ear canal to assess the physical movement of your middle ear system. | Detects middle ear issues such as fluid behind the eardrum or problems with the ossicular bones and more. |
Protect Your Child's Development With Gentle Paediatric Testing
Childhood hearing loss, even if mild or temporary, can significantly impact speech development, language acquisition, and academic performance. We provide targeted, compassionate hearing assessments for children over the age of 4 years using specific clinical methodologies.
Play Audiometry
Used for preschool-aged children, this method involves the child performing a fun task, such as putting a peg in a board, every time they hear the test tone.
Standard Audiometry
Used for older children who can comfortably follow instructions and press a response button similar to an adult assessment.
Parents are warmly welcome and actively encouraged to be present throughout the entire assessment process. Whether a routine school screening has flagged a potential concern, there are speech or language production difficulties or you have noticed signs of difficulty at home such as turning the television up too loud, our professional assessment provides a clear picture of your child’s hearing health.
Access Fully Funded Government Services for Eligible Pensioners
You may be eligible for fully funded hearing services through the Australian Government Hearing Services Program. The Hearing Centre is a fully accredited provider under this strict government initiative.
You may be eligible for this essential government support if you hold
A current Pensioner Concession Card
A current Pensioner Concession Card
A DVA White Card specifically covering hearing loss
What the government program includes
A thorough clinical hearing assessment
Access to high-quality, fully funded hearing aids at absolutely no out-of-pocket cost for the standard device range
Coverage for your regular clinical maintenance and adjustments
An ongoing annual supply of fresh disposable batteries or support for rechargeable units
Our administrative team understands that navigating government services can sometimes feel overwhelming. We will happily guide you through the entire eligibility check process, assist you with applying for your government voucher, and handle all the necessary ongoing administrative claims on your behalf.
Find the Perfect Hearing Device From All Major Global Brands
We expertly fit premium hearing aids from all major global manufacturers, including Phonak, Oticon, Widex, Unitron, ReSound. Starkey and Signia and more.
Your specific device is selected strictly based on a combination of critical factors.
Your Clinical Audiogram
The specific frequencies and volumes where your auditory system requires acoustic amplification.
Your Lifestyle Requirements
The types of noisy environments you frequent, such as busy cafes, boardrooms, or quiet home settings.
Your Physical Dexterity
Your ability to handle small devices, change tiny batteries, or manage modern rechargeable systems.
Your Personal Budget
Finding the absolute best technological value within your comfortable financial range without unnecessary upselling.
Modern hearing technology features sophisticated artificial intelligence to automatically reduce background noise and enhance speech clarity. Many modern devices also offer seamless Bluetooth streaming directly from your smartphone, allowing you to take phone calls and listen to music with crystal-clear audio directly through your hearing aids.
We program your chosen hearing aids to your exact medical prescription using precise real-ear measurement techniques. Adjusting to new hearing aids is much like wearing a new pair of multifocal glasses for the first time. We provide structured, unhurried follow-up appointments over a four to six-week period to carefully fine-tune your devices for maximum comfort and optimal acoustic performance.
Support Your Daily Comfort With Targeted Tinnitus Management
Tinnitus affects approximately one in six Australians, often presenting as a persistent ringing, buzzing, humming, or roaring sound in the ears or head. If you experience these intrusive sounds, a professional clinical assessment can identify contributing factors and outline viable, evidence-based management options.
Because tinnitus is frequently linked to underlying hearing loss, treating the hearing loss is often the most effective first step. Our management approach involves several supportive techniques tailored to your lifestyle.
Hearing Aid Amplification
Properly fitted hearing aids frequently reduce tinnitus perception simply by restoring the natural environmental sounds that the ringing tends to mask.
Tinnitus Sound Therapy
We can activate specialised built-in sound generators within modern hearing aids that play soothing, customised masking noises like ocean waves or white noise to distract the brain.
Environmental Sound Enrichment
We provide practical advice on using external sound sources, such as bedside sound machines, to help you fall asleep more comfortably at night.
Cognitive Habituation Techniques
We provide practical counselling strategies to help your brain learn to relegate the tinnitus sound to the background and reduce your emotional response to the noise.
Prevent Permanent Damage With Custom Ear Protection Moulds
Hearing damage resulting from excessive noise exposure is completely permanent, cumulative, and highly preventable. Custom-moulded ear plugs provide a highly secure and comfortable acoustic seal that standard off-the-shelf foam options simply cannot match for reliability, accuracy and all-day comfort.
We safely take a precise physical impression of your ear canal directly during your clinic appointment. Your custom protective plugs are then manufactured in a specialised acoustic laboratory and returned to our clinic within approximately two weeks.
| Protection Type | Best Suited For | Key Protective Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Musician Ear Plugs | Musicians, audio engineers, concert-goers | Uses specialised acoustic filters to reduce volume evenly across all frequencies, preserving true musical sound quality without distortion. |
| Industrial Ear Plugs | Construction workers, factory staff, landscapers | Delivers maximum high-decibel attenuation to strictly meet SafeWork NSW workplace noise exposure standards. |
| Custom Swim Plugs | Swimmers, surfers, children with grommets | Creates a completely waterproof seal to prevent water entry, reducing the risk of recurrent middle ear infections. Can still allow sound through. |
| Motorsport Plugs | Race enthusiasts, motorcyclists | Sits flush within the ear canal to fit comfortably underneath tight safety helmets while blocking severe engine noise. |
| Sleep Ear Plugs | Shift workers, light sleepers, partners of snorers | Manufactured from ultra-soft medical silicone for maximum overnight comfort while blocking disruptive ambient sounds. |
Minimise Your Downtime With Fast In-Clinic Device Repairs
If your current hearing aid stops working or requires maintenance, you can bring it to any of our four North Shore clinics for prompt assessment and repair. We confidently service and repair devices from all major global manufacturers, regardless of whether you originally purchased them from our clinic.
Hearing aids sit in a warm, moist environment all day, making them susceptible to natural wear and tear. Our clinic staff frequently complete minor hardware repairs on the same day to ensure you are not left without your essential communication tools.
Common issues we routinely resolve in-clinic include
Reduced volume output or complete loss of sound
Persistent whistling feedback or static noises
Cracked physical casings or broken acoustic tubing
Simple battery contact faults or moisture damage
Blocked microphone ports or wax guard replacements
For complex internal circuit faults, we efficiently coordinate major manufacturer repairs to minimise your downtime. We highly recommend scheduling a routine service appointment every six months to extend the lifespan of your investment. We also stock a full range of fresh batteries, replacement domes, and cleaning tools across all our locations.
Proactive Hearing Care Actively Protects Your Long Term Cognitive Health
Untreated hearing loss impacts far more than just your ability to hear the television or participate in group conversations. Emerging global clinical research strongly links proactive hearing management with long-term cognitive health and overall brain function.
Taking action to treat your hearing loss provides several vital benefits for your brain.
Reduces Daily Cognitive Load
When you struggle to hear clearly, your brain is forced to allocate significant excess energy simply trying to decode muffled speech. Treating hearing loss frees up these cognitive resources for memory formation, complex problem solving, and information retention.
Maintains Active Neural Pathways
The auditory processing centres of the brain can weaken over time due to a lack of clear sensory stimulation. Hearing aids provide your brain with the vital, clear sensory input it requires to remain sharp and engaged.
Prevents Harmful Social Isolation
Untreated hearing loss frequently leads to gradual social withdrawal as group conversations become exhausting. Maintaining your hearing helps you stay actively involved in busy restaurants, family gatherings, and social clubs, which is a strongly recognised protective factor against cognitive decline.
What Can You Expect During Your Initial Diagnostic Appointment?
Taking the first step toward better hearing can feel daunting, which is why we prioritise a welcoming, completely transparent clinical environment. Your first appointment takes 60 minutes and involves a series of highly comfortable, painless diagnostic tests.
There is a strict zero-pressure policy in our clinics. We will never push you toward a technological solution you are not ready for.
To help us provide the most accurate care, you might want to bring the following items to your appointment
A referral from your doctor although not mandatory
Your pension or DVA card if applicable
Any previous hearing tests
A loved one to support you at the appointment
Get Clear Answers to Your Most Common Audiology Questions
Do I need a medical referral to see an audiologist?
No. Self-funded private patients can book an in-depth assessment directly by simply calling our clinic. If you have been formally referred by your General Practitioner or an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist, please bring your referral letter along to your appointment so we can provide them with a detailed diagnostic report regarding your care. With the medical referral you may be eligible for a small hearing test medicare rebate.
How much does an extensive hearing assessment cost?
Self-funded hearing assessments are charged at our standard clinical consultation fee. Private health insurance rebates may apply depending on your specific health fund and your level of extras cover. Eligible pensioners and veterans typically receive fully funded assessments through the Australian Government Hearing Services Program. Please call our reception team for the most up-to-date pricing specific to your situation.
Can you repair hearing aids purchased from other providers?
Yes, all the major brands. We expertly service and repair hearing devices from all major global manufacturers. We cannot repair white labelled (rebadged) devices. We are more than happy to assist you regardless of where your hearing aids were originally fitted or purchased. You can bring your faulty device into any of our four North Shore clinic locations for a thorough assessment and prompt repair. Which hearing aid brands do you fit and recommend?
We expertly fit premium hearing aids from all leading global manufacturers, including Phonak, Oticon, Widex, Unitron, ReSound, Bernafon, Signia, Beltone, Starkey and more. Our fiercely independent status means we select the specific brand and technological model that best matches your clinical audiogram and lifestyle requirements, rather than fulfilling a restrictive corporate sales quota for a single manufacturer.
Do you provide hearing assessments for young children?
Yes. We conduct thorough, gentle hearing assessments for children aged 4 years and older. We utilise specialised, age-appropriate clinical testing methods, such as play audiometry, to ensure highly accurate diagnostic results while keeping your child completely comfortable and entertained throughout the entire process.
How long does it take to get used to wearing new hearing aids?
Adjusting to new hearing technology is a process that typically takes between four to six weeks. Your brain needs this vital time to acclimatise to hearing sounds it may have missed for many years, such as the hum of the refrigerator or rustling leaves. We support you through this entire neuroplasticity adjustment period with structured follow-up appointments to gradually fine-tune your volume and comfort settings.
Are You Ready to Book Your Detailed Hearing Assessment?
Secure your 60-minute clinical consultation to thoroughly test your hearing, understand your diagnostic results, and discuss your targeted management options with a highly experienced independent expert.
02 9420 2300
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Lane Cove | Northbridge | Hunters Hill | Mosman
This information is general in nature. For clinical advice specific to your personal medical situation, please book a formal consultation with our principal audiologist.