By Erin Seamer – Audiologist Hearing Help Newport
A hearing test is an assessment that determines the type and severity of hearing loss you may have. The test is performed by an Audiologist and is more accurate than an online hearing test. An Audiologist is a university-trained specialist that helps evaluate, preserve, and improve a person’s hearing and understanding. During the test, the audiologist will assess how loud a sound needs to be for you to hear it and perform different types of tests to check how well sound travels through different parts of your ear. A hearing test provides vital information so an Audiologist can guide you through to select the right pathway to help your hearing needs.
What does a hearing test cost?
You can book a hearing test without a doctor’s referral, however at Hearing Help Newport there are funding options available to help with the expense of a hearing test.
- Medicare provides a rebate towards the cost of a hearing test if you provide a valid doctors referral requesting a hearing test. While this does not cover all expenses it does help cover about $55 to $65 (35-40%) of a standard hearing assessment cost.
- Australian Pensioners and Veterans may be eligible to access fully subsidised hearing tests every 12 months, under an Australian government program called the Hearing Services Program (or HSP). HSP is easy to access, you just need to visit or call us on 07 3214 3641, we can apply on your behalf if you provide your name, date of birth and Pension concession card number/DVA number.
- Other funding may be available for Veterans (DVA), NDIS, WorkCover
I’m over 60 and have heard I’m supposed to have a hearing test? Why?
The links between hearing loss and aging are well understood, not just in the medical community but society. However, the prevalence of hearing loss is probably greater than most people realise, did you know?
- 1 in 6 Australians have a hearing loss (within the current general population). By 2050, it is expected to be 1 in 4 (due to the aging population). *Access Economics, Listen Hear!; The economic impact and cost of hearing loss in Australia (Feb 2006)
- According to the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care; In Australia between the ages of;
- 60 to 70 years of age about 50% of the population has a hearing loss.
- 70 and 80 years, the prevalence of hearing loss is 74%
- Over 80 years of age the incidence of hearing loss is around 80% of the population.
According to this report, if you are over the age of 60, you have a 1 in 2 chance of having a hearing loss and this risk increases substantially in future years. If you are 75 years old and having coffee with 3 friends, all but one of you are probably experiencing the impact of hearing difficulties. This high prevalence certainly warrants the need for everyone over the age of 60 to have an annual hearing test.
I’m aged 74 and my spouse is quite deaf but I’m OK….. why do I need to have a hearing test?
Whenever I meet someone who comments this I ask them ……“But is your hearing as good as it used to be?”, they almost always reply,………. “Oh no but it’s normal to change a bit with age”.
True we do expect our hearing to change with the aging process (between the ages of 70-80 a hearing loss affects 74% of the population!), however we shouldn’t misinterpret usual changes from aging with normal hearing.
Sometimes when we spend all of our time with certain loved ones we compare our abilities with theirs, we adjust to their needs and we get used to the gradual changes that occur along the way (such as talking louder, repeating and having the TV up louder for them). While we appreciate how much they are struggling, for some spouses who do not experiencing the same degree of difficulty, they report their hearing is “fine, not as good as it used to be but they’re OK”.
Thankfully for many in this group, their hearing often is good (or they may have a very mild hearing loss – that doesn’t require hearing aids/other treatment). However, we should still review their hearing annually, initially to understand their baseline hearing and then in future to review during the years we anticipate greater decline (from 70 years onwards).
Maintaining good hearing health is essential for your overall health and wellbeing, as untreated hearing loss can significantly impact your quality of life and is linked to cognitive decline. It is crucial to prioritise your hearing health just as you do other health concerns.
Remember an annual hearing test is recommended for all people over the age of 60, not just those with an obvious hearing loss, and there are funding options to help with the cost (Australian Pensioners can and should access free hearing tests annually, also ask us about Medicare rebates).
Visit the Hearing Help clinic at Newport Marketplace Shopping Centre, call on 07 3214 3641 or email hello@hearinghelpredcliffe.com.au to book an appointment or to ask us how to access funding options.