FAQ

You can come publically with a referral from your GP. You would then go on the public waiting list. Waiting times can be quite long, depending on how your referral is graded. The other option is to come privately. You would normally be seen within 2-3 weeks.

Because hearing loss often happens gradually, you might not notice the signs straight away.

Here are some simple ways to assess whether you might have a hearing loss:

•	Do you often turn up the volume on the television or radio in order to hear it?
•	Do you find it difficult to hear people clearly when in a busy environment such as a restaurant?
•	Do you struggle to hear conversations when in a vehicle?
•	Do you find younger children or women with higher pitched voices hard to hear clearly?
•	Do you hear people speaking but can’t always understand what they are saying?

A hearing screening simply determines whether a person has a hearing problem or not. A diagnostic hearing assessment determines whether any identified hearing loss is permanent or treatable.

Hearing loss may be caused by many factors ie wax blocking the ear canal, fluid in the middle ear, viruses, certain medications. The most common causes of permanent hearing loss are exposure to noise and aging. Hearing loss becomes more prevalent with the aging process, however more than half of all the hearing impaired people are under the age of 65.

Exposure to loud noise (above 85 decibels), aging and certain infections or drugs can damage hair cells in the inner ear. The result may be irreversible hearing loss, hearing aids are often the only solution.

It is estimated that approximately 400,000 New Zealanders have hearing loss.

American research suggests that:

•	3 in 10 people over age 60 have hearing loss
•	1 in 6 baby boomers between 41-59 years of age have a hearing problem
•	1 in 14 of Generation X (29-40 years of age) already has hearing loss

Over the past 10 years the number of 7 year olds with hearing loss has doubled. Hearing loss in 13 year olds has increased by four times.

Yes. We offer a free hearing screen and demonstration of a hearing aid.

Whakatane Audiology offers a free 2 month trial on all hearing aids. At the end of this trial if you feel hearing aids are not for you then you can return them for a full refund.

The cost of purchasing a hearing aid or aids depends on a variety of factors including:

•	the degree and type of hearing loss
•	the complexities of the listening environment in which hearing aids will be used
•	the wearer’s personal cosmetic preferences
•	the need for one or two hearing aids

Hearing aid costs have also been affected by developments in technology over the last decade. In general hearing aids can be classified according to cost as follows:

Basic Digital or Analogue: $1200-$2000 per pair of hearing aids
Aids in this category generally perform well in quiet situations. These aids do not offer maximum assistance in group conversations, crowds, or meetings. These aids generally offer options such as manual volume, different listening programs for different sound environments, and telecoil compatibility in some models and use of a remote control to change volume and other features in some models.

Middle Range Digital: $2400-$5000 per pair of hearing aids
These instruments offer a greater range of features than the basic models. Additional features include reduction of non-speech noise and directional microphones to reduce the interference background noise.

Advanced Digital: $5000-$7000+ per pair of hearing aids
In addition to the above features advanced hearing aids use the latest technology and are better able to cope with changes in the listening environment. This results in better speech understanding in a greater range of situations including the presence of background noise. Many user options are available that make them easy to use, and some aids within this category are adjustable via a remote control. They also provide your audiologist with the greatest flexibility to optimize the devices for your hearing.

[Source: NZAS, 2009]

Children's Hearing Aids are FREE. For information on funding available to purchase hearing aids click here.