FAQ about our services


What qualifications does your audiologist have?

Our audiolgoist is an accreddited audiologist under Audiology Australia and a licenced Medical Provider for the Australian Government Hearing Services Program. He has also completed comprehensive ear wax management courses. He trained as an audiologist at the University in Western Australia and holds a Master in Clinical Audiology along with a Medical Science undergraduate degree. He also more than 7 years experience in adult hearing rehabilation (hearing aid prescription).

How do you perform hearing assessments in people's homes accurately with noise present?

All our testing equiptment is calibrated specifically for mobile operations and we only use the best on the market.

When hearing thresholds are measured during home-visit hearing tests, we use a special type of ear plug called "inserts" which allow for greater sound attentionation in comparsiion to over-the-ear headphones often used in clinics. This allows for accurate testing even with background sounds present. Furthermore, ambient noise-floor levels are always live-measured during testing, to ensure all results are accurate and adhering to industry standards.

That being said, clearly, all testing of hearing must be performed without signifcant background noise present at homes. Examples of noises not tolerated during testing includes families talking loudly in a room next door or children running around the house.

Generally speaking, the only times testing would not be appropriate to perform at someone's home would be if the house was directly on a very busy road, or road works were being performed outside. If this is the case, please let us know prior to booking your appointment.

If I'm not a eligible DVA/HSP client, can I receive a rebate on hearing aids or appointments through Medicare or my Commonwealth Card?

Unfortunately, no. Australia does not provide audiology billing through Medicare or concession cards. However, funding can be provided through the Australian Government Hearing Services Program or DVA, for eligible clients.

Why should I come to your clinic over the many chain hearing clinics available to me? What benefits will I get with you over them?

Well, there is many!

  • We also offer low priced hearing aids, starting from as low as $1695. And as an ethnical audiology clinic, the difference with us is we provide quality hearing aids at fair prices, not any hearing aid at a low price. The devil being in the detail here. But don't just take our word for it - spend some time online researching the repuation of the manufacturers we work with, and verify this yourself.

  • We proudly display our prices online, instead of merely stating it. Within the industry, many independent clinics assert on their websites that their pricing is "transparent," yet a thorough search of their entire site often reveals no pricing information at all. This tactic is typically employed because they maintain approximately 25% flexibility in the prices they can charge for their aids. Let's be clear about this - it's a dirty tactic of overcharging clients when they can get away with it. It reflects poorly on our industry, and calls into question their clinical integrity.

  • We are not affiliated or owned by hearing companies or large corperate body, ensuring you receive unbiased advice. Also, we are a local family practice, so your support is directly reinvested into the community, not sent overseas.

  • Low-quality hearing aids being sold by chains is prevelent within Australia, due to the corperate saturation that now exsists, prioritising bottom dollar over the end-user. Corperate bodies (generally) will have preferential purchasing agreements with low cost vendors. 

  • Indepedent clinics, such as ours, provide more individualised patient-focused care and longer appointment times, enabling you to develop trust and rapport with your audiologist

  • We offer a comprehensive home-visit service. And unlike our competetors, we use state-of-the-art testing testing equiptment for this, because our business is specifically designed for itHome visits are a great option for those who have mobility and transport issues!

  • That being said (and since we are so honest) there are still times when a chain clinic may still be a better option for you over our clinic. If you are planning on moving to another state/city in the future, chains offer a network of clinics around Australia, making it easier for you to switch providers. Furthermore, our home-service is not bulk billed, meaning if you require no-cost home visits, potentially another provider could provide this at a bulk-billed rate.

Can I receive rebates for hearing aids through my private health fund?

Yes, if your private health fund provides hearing coverage, you may be entitled to a rebate for your hearing aids. The amount provided depends on your specific health fund policy. You will need to speak to your health fund provider first to determine the amount you are entitled to. If you have hearing on your policy, you'll likely be entitled to around $800-1000 towards your hearing aids.

We are not Hicaps registered, therefore, the rebate amount can only be provided from your health fund after the purchase is made from the invoice we provide you.

Can you access my property if I live on a farm or remote location and only have 4WD access? 

Yes, our audiologist will attend your appointment in a 4WD vehicle, allowing us to reach nearly all property types. We can attend remote properties, including farms.

Do you do hearing assessments for driving licences purposes?

Yes we do. We can provide a hearing assessment and report to your doctor detailing your eligibility to drive with/without hearing aids.

If I require a medical report for my doctor or workplace, can you provide this at the appointment?

Yes we can. We can provide a medical report for no cost at your hearing assessment. If this is required for a wax removal appointment, a $35 fee applies.

Please note, most doctors and workplaces will require an audiology report which has been performed within the last 6 months. 

There is no charge for medical reports for eligible HSP clients.

What type of payments do you accept?

We can accept all major types of payment, including eftpos, cash, or bank transfer. Our audiologist will always attend your home-visit appointment with a mobile eftpos machine and provide a tax invoice.

Are you a full Hearing Services Program provider? What services can be provided for me if I'm an eligible pensioners or DVA client?

We are full providers for the Hearing Services Program clients and DVA clients. 

Speak to us about what funding availability may be available for you. We will check your eligibility and ensure all entitlments available to you are explained and fully provided during delivery of services.

Home-visits are billed privately and cannot be paid for under the HSP program.

Are there any tests that can't be performed by your audiologist during your home-visits, in comparision to testing in clinic?

All the tests we can perform at your home are the same tests that we performed in our clinic.

We use all the same equiptment you'd get a in traditional clinic, such as middle ear tympanometry; bone conduction testing; speech testing; speech in noise testing; pure tone audiometry and video otoscopy. 

If I'm a private client and wish to receive services at your clinic, how will I be billed?

All our pricing for private clients is available on our "all services we offer and pricing" page. 

If you are a private client, you have 3 ways in which you can be billed by us.

1) If you have purchased hearing aids from us - there is no charge for booked appointments for the proceeding 6 months after purchase. 

2) Purchase of Aftercare Plans - this provides coverage for all services for the period of the plan.

3) If you are not under an Aftercare Plan or 6-months post purchase period, you will be billed for the individual appointments that you book.

Albany, Western Australia

040 932 3259

southernhearingexcellence@protonmail.me

Denmark Clinic: Monday and Friday 09:00am - 4:30pm Albany Clinic: Tuesday and Thursday: 09:00am - 4:30pm Home visits: Saturday 09:00-1:00pm

  • Areas we cover in Albany

    Albany central, Collingwood Park, Bayonet Head, Middleton Beach, Lower King, Upper King, Lockyer, McKail, Lange, Spencer Park, Milpara, Warrenup, Oranga, Robinson, Millbrook, King River, Cuthbeth 

  • Areas we cover outside of Albany

    Denmark, Kronkup, Kalgan, Scottsdale, Narrikup, Elleker, Marebelup, Bornholm, Ocean Beach, Torbay, Nanarup, Goode Beach, Robinson, Nanarup