Hearing services we offer

Free Screening Tests

Hearing Care at Forster and Port Macquarie offer FREE hearing screening tests.

Hearing Assessments

We conduct a comprehensive assessment of your hearing, determine the extent and nature of any hearing loss, your hearing needs (e.g. to hear your loved ones & TV better) and listening environment (e.g. home, meetings, work.)

ENT / GP Referral

ENT - When a patient is referred to Hearing Care at Forster and Port Macquarie by an Ear Nose and Throat Specialist, the test is claimable through Medicare. We have referral pads available at our Office and are flexible to fit in urgent hearing assessments when required. 

A detailed report, audiogram and tympanometry will be faxed to the ENT the day of the assessment.

Download the Medical Certificate Form here

GP - Hearing assessments are claimable under EPCP (Enhanced Primary Care Plan) with only a minimal gap payable. Our Office is flexible to fit in urgent hearing assessments when required.

A detailed report, audiogram and tympanometry will be faxed to the GP the day of the assessment.

Download the Referral Form here

Tinnitus Management

Advice and management programs

Pre employment hearing tests

Tuning of existing hearing aids

Custom made swimmers and noise ear plugs

Free Hearing Aid Trials

If our hearing assessments shows you could benefit from a hearing aids, we’ll make our recommendation and provide a 30 day FREE Trial on any device you wish to try. If after 30 days the hearing aid I not meeting your expectations, you can simply return it.

Fully Accredited

Hearing Care is accredited by the Office of Hearing Services and Workcover which means we are able to provide fully subsidised hearing tests and hearing aids to Pensioners and Veterans. Our Workcover accreditation means we can assess and assist people with a work related or noise induced hearing loss.

Hearing Aid Fittings – Pensioner, DVA and Private Clients

If it is assessed that you would benefit from hearing aids, we could begin a hearing aid trial. This is a 5 step process from a hearing assessment, hearing aid discussion, impression, fitting and review:

1. Hearing Assessment - we conduct a comprehensive assessment of your hearing, determine the extent and nature of any hearing loss, discuss your listening environment (e.g. meetings, work, home) and your hearing needs (e.g. to hear your grandchildren & TV better).
   
2. Hearing Aid Discussion - we will explain in detail the different hearing aid styles, brands, technologies, features & benefits along with cost based on your hearing loss and preferences for aesthetics, usage, comfort and budget. If you hold a Pension or Veteran's card, you may be eligible for fully-subsidised hearing aids.
   
3. Impression - if necessary, we will take an impression of your ear to ensure the hearing aid fits your ear shape for optimal comfort and security.
   
4. Fitting - Approximately 2 weeks after your hearing assessment, we will fit you with your new hearing aids. We will program them to suit your particular hearing loss, and explain how to use & care for your hearing aids (e.g. changing the battery, cleaning etc...)
   
5. Review - Approximately 1 week after fitting, we will assess your feedback on how your hearing aids are assisting you and then fine-tune your hearing aids to ensure maximum hearing improvement in listening situations.
   

Repairs and Maintenance

All staff at Hearing Care at Forster and Port Macquarie are trained to repair hearing aids.

We aim to provide a same day repair service, and our staff can usually repair a hearing aid on-the-spot while a client waits. If a hearing aid does need to be sent to the Manufacturer for repair, it will be returned within approximately 1 week and in most cases a spare aid can be loaned to the client.

For clients who cannot come into a clinic, we can post repaired aids and batteries.

A small annual Government fee will cover all battery and repair needs throughout the year.

Proper Care and Maintenance of Hearing Instruments

Modern hearing instruments are durable, easy-to-use and reliable. Nevertheless, a few simple precautions will ensure that your hearing aids continue to give you many years of trouble-free service.

Cleaning Hearing Aids

Never wash your hearing aid with water, cleaning solutions or liquids. Instead clean your hearing aid with a dry soft cloth after use.

When the hearing aid is not in use, it is a good idea to leave the battery drawer open, so as to ventilate the hearing aid and allow it to dry.

The Earmould

Make sure that your earmould is clean and free of earwax and moisture. If it is plugged, clear the opening with a wax removing tool.

If you are not using your hearing aid for a day or more, take out the battery to avoid battery leakage.

Information and supply of Alternative Listening Devices

What is an Alternative Listening Device (ALD)?

ALDs are hearing devices that can be used by people with a hearing loss who might not be able to manage a standard hearing aid or for other reasons a standard hearing aid is not suitable for them.

The most commonly fitted type of ALD has a microphone which can be pointed to the sound source and a set of headphones to help you hear sounds around you, these are called personal amplifiers. Personal amplifiers are generally used for people to hear conversations in a small group or other sounds over a short distance.

Other types of ALDs can help people hear specific things such as the television. These types of ALDs can connect directly to the sound source with a cord or might have a wireless connection. A set of headphones is worn to hear the sounds. This means the television or radio volume doesn’t have to be too loud for other people and the sounds heard are not distorted or changed by increasing the volume to loud levels.

Other ALDs might be used to hear conversations over the telephone.