FAQ
Do I need a GP referral?
No. If you are concerned about your hearing, please call us or visit during office hours and we can discuss your concerns and make an appointment to meet with one of our post-graduate qualified, fully accredited Audiologists Contact Us.
Do I get a Medicare rebate on audiological services?
Recent Medicare changes which came into effect on 1 March 2023, have resulted in Medicare rebates now being available for Diagnostic Audiology referral‘s from any Medical Practitioner, including your GP. Please note, referrals from medical practitioners other than ENTs or Neurologists needed to be dated after 1 March 2023 for the Medicare rebate to apply. The referral must be brought with you to the appointment
A Medicare rebate is also available for General Practitioner Referrals through the Chronic Disease Management (formerly Enhanced Primary Care) program but must be discussed and arranged with your Doctor prior to the assessment.
Do I get a Private Health fund rebate on audiological services?
Some private health funds provide rebates on audiological testing and others provide rebates only on hearing aids. Whether or not a rebate is available to you will depend upon your Health Fund and your current level of cover. Please contact your health fund directly to verify any rebates you may be entitled to. Please note that audiology has only recently been provided access to HICAPs and, currently, only a limited number of health funds have signed up, so you may need to lodge your claim directly with your health fund. For a list of health funds and claim codes currently available for audiology through HICAPs, please visit the HICAPs website: https://www.hicaps.com.au/news/audiology
For more information about the different levels of audiological cover provided by various private health funds, please visit www.privatehealth.gov.au
Am I eligible for free services?
The Australian Government Hearing Services Program assists some Australian Citizens with hearing support and free services. For full details, please click HERE.
What is the difference between an audiologist and an audiometrist?
All practitioners at John Pearcy Audiology are University trained, postgraduate qualified audiologists who are Audiology Australia Accredited Audiologists.
Audiology Australia’s scope of practice for audiologists and audiometrists helps to fully define the roles.
Generally, the differences between audiology and audiometry can be described as follows: Audiology and audiometry are often confused. When the educational backgrounds of audiologists and audiometrists are compared, there are both qualitative and quantitative differences in training that impact upon the respective abilities of audiologists and audiometrists. With their university education, audiologists possess the professional skills needed to apply relevant knowledge and skills to a range of audiological cases. Hearing aid audiometrists undergo a vocational program at TAFE and are more limited in the range of audiological cases they can treat.
Click here for further information.
Is John Pearcy Audiology aligned with any hearing aid manufacturers?
No. John Pearcy Audiology is a fully independent, Audiologist owned practice.
Does John Pearcy Audiology have commission based hearing aid sales?
No. John Pearcy Audiology does not operate on commissions. We believing in working with our clients to select the best hearing device at the right price.
How does our hearing work?
For a description of how hearing works, visit our information page by clicking HERE.
Where are you located?
John Pearcy Audiology is located in the Brisbane suburb of Carina.
Our Contact Us page has information, maps, directions and opening hours to help you find us.
I already have hearing aids, can you adjust them for me?
Yes. We are happy to provide hearing aid adjustments and rehabilitation services to individuals who already have hearing aids.
Do you test children?
Yes. We test children’s hearing from six months of age. All of our audiologists are fully trained in paediatric testing techniques (including impedance, play audiometry, VROA, TEOAEs, DPOAEs, and Kendall Toy Test) and utilise specialist paediatric audiological testing equipment. Specific age appropriate tests are selected and conducted in a fun child friendly way.
Testing will include visual inspection of the ear canal, a test of middle ear function, a test of sensorineural hearing function via an age appropriate method (headphones are generally not used for children under 3 years of age) and a test of word recognition (if age appropriate). Testing does involve cooperation from the child, including brief periods of sitting quiet and still. Testing also includes the placement of small soft plugs in the ears for brief periods. No verbal responses are required. The audiologist will also provide recommendations and a report to parents and any other health practitioners involved. This report will be forwarded to relevant parties in the days following the appointment. Please note, the gathering of sufficient results may be limited due to the child’s level of cooperation. We suggest you book an appointment time for when your child is most happy and content, and not hungry or tired. The appointment will be booked for one hour.
We also assess children’s Auditory Processing from six years of age and give recommendations to assist your child and their hearing.
From what age can a child be tested for auditory processing?
Auditory Processing can be assessed from six years of age. There is large developmental variation and no normative data available for children under the age of six, making any auditory processing results obtained before a child turns six years old invalid. A full hearing assessment (full audiogram, impedance and speech testing) is included with the auditory processing assessment (or must be conducted within 4 weeks prior) and must show normal hearing function for valid auditory processing results.
I have ringing in my ears. Do hearing aids help?
Ringing in your ears is called Tinnitus. Yes, well fitted and appropriate hearing aids can help, as per the Neuroscience/Tinnitus retraining therapy approach of sound enrichment and reduced auditory straining.
Do you sell hearing aid batteries?
Yes. We have batteries, sweatbands, cleaning products and noise control devices available in-store or you can call the clinic and we can post them to you Contact Us.
Is it better to wear two hearing aids than one?
Yes. If finances dictate your choice, it is better to have two less expensive hearing aids than to spend more money on just one. The benefits of sounds being heard with both ears gives up to 88% improvement in speech understanding in noise.
Do hearing aids help with hearing loss from noise exposure?
Yes. Provided your hearing aid/s is set appropriately, with our specialised Five Appointment Rehabilitation Plan, wearing hearing aids will help.
When you test my hearing, do I get a copy of the report?
Yes. A full report containing all test results and recommendations will be provided to you.
Do you make Swim Plugs to stop water getting in my ears when I am swimming?
Yes. Swim Plugs are custom made to fit your ears and are available in a range of different colours.
I am a Musician and play in a band. I need hearing protection. Do you make earplugs with attenuators?
Yes. Custom musician ear plugs can be made with a range of attenuation levels available.