• It is frequent for other people to be more worried about your hearing than you are.
• You are the most important person in deciding if a hearing aid is worth trying.
• A hearing aid should never be bought because of pressure form family, friends, doctors or audiologists.
• If you are not enthusiastic about the idea of a hearing aid when you first get it, it is not likely that you will use it much.

• This is not true for the majority of patients, and is not a good reason to get a hearing aid unless you otherwise want one.
• A hearing aid may help  in rare cases of profound hearing loss where cochlear implantation (bionic ear ) may be an option down the track. The hearing aid ensures there is some auditory signal to keep the higher brain centres stimulated, so they keep working.

• There is an extremely large number of hearing aids on the market and it is important to find a hearing aid that suits your lifestyle, your hearing loss and your budget.
• Cosmetics is a very important factor when considering hearing aids. The miniaturisation in hearing technology in recent years has led to large range of hearing aids that are completely hidden when worn.
• At Annandale Audiology and Hearing Aids,  hearing aids areonly  recommended and ordered following an extensive assessment of each individuals hearing loss and discussion of your communication problem areas.
• We  work closely with

1. Signia hearing instruments        https://www.signia-hearing.com
2. Phonak hearing instruments     https://www.phonak.com/au/en.html
3. Unitron Hearing                 http://unitron.com/content/unitron/au/en/consumer.html

• If you have enquiries regarding other hearing aid manufacturers,  we are able to arrange fittings in most cases
• Our qualified audiologist will assist you in determining which hearing aid best suits your hearing needs during your initial test appointment.

• Hearing aids have features to suit everyone.

THE TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE IN HEARING AIDS VARIES, BUT CAN INCLUDE:

•  Automatic adaptive directional microphones
  • These microphones adapt their focus to provide the clearest speech possible
• Binaural processing
  • The hearing aids in each ear an communicate wirelessly to adjust volume or program.
  • In some hearing aids, such as many of the Signia and Phonak hearing aid range the wireless communication between ears is used to improve the directionality of the hearing aids
  • This results in clearer understanding of speech when there is background noise
• Wireless technology
  • This feature transmits sound from devices such as your mobile phone or television directly to your hearing aids.
  • This means you don’t need to hold a mobile phone to your hearing aid to answer calls and you can hear the sound from your mobile in both ears at the same time without having to use speaker mode.
  • You can use a streamer on your television to send sound directly to your hearing aids so that you can adjust the volume of the TV to suit you, without making it too loud for everyone else
• Trainability
  • You can adjust the bass and treble and volume of your hearing aids in different environments so that your hearing aids learn you preferred settings for different environments.
  • This is helpful for particular situations, such as listening to music, or attending meetings
• Adjustments using an app on your smart phone
  • Some hearing aids will allow you adjust the volume of your devices using an app on your phone.
  • There is no need to carry an extra remote control or to keep putting your hands to your ears.
• Water and Dust Resistance
  • As anyone who has worn hearing aids will tell you, moisture can be very damaging to a hearing aid.
  • The good news is that majority of behind the ear hearing aids available are now splash proof, moisture resistant and highly dust resistant also.
• The range of hearing aids available on the market is immense, with features to suit everyone. Make an appointment with our audiologist to discuss what are the best devices for you.

• As our hearing deteriorates we lose the ability to hear soft sounds and some parts of speech. It is normally a slow and gradual process and we are often not aware that we have stopped hearing these sounds.
• When you are first fitted with hearing aids, sounds that you have forgotten or have heard only softly, will be quite loud. People often comment that traffic noise, rustling paper, washing the dishes and their own voices seem very loud when they are wearing their new hearing aids.
• People with normal hearing (including you before you developed a hearing loss) also hear these noises loudly but have learnt to ignore them while concentrating on the things they want to hear.
• You need to relearn to push these unwanted noises aside to help you achieve the best outcomes with your hearing aids. The only way to relearn this skill is to use your hearing aids regularly in a variety of environments.
• Gradual progression is the key to success but regular use is essential.

• Ideally you should aim to use your hearing aid as much as possible.
• If you are home alone during the day and do not want to use your hearing aid all day, use it for the television every afternoon or evening.
• If you wear your hearing aid consistently every day (even if you feel you don’t need it) you will be so used to what you are hearing that coping with background noise will be much easier for you.
• Regular use will ensure you learn to push the unwanted noises aside.

• A hearing aid amplifies sound through your damaged ear but it is not able to make your ear hear normally again.
• Unfortunately, as your hearing gets worse the amount of speech you can hear clearly diminishes also.
• Your audiologist will be able to discuss with you what you should be expecting from your hearing aid and if there are other devices that may help you more.
• A well fitted hearing aid will help to improve the clarity of speech but the amount of speech you can understand will depend on a lot of other factors. For example:
  • the distance between you and the person you are talking to
  • the amount of background noise
  • the clarity of the speaker’s voice
  • the features and technology in your hearing aid

• To ensure our high-quality services and products are affordable, Annandale Audiology offers special rates for pensioners and DVA clients, as well as Medicare rebates on our services where applicable.
• We provide very competitive pricing on our services and hearing solutions, and offer the latest, high end hearing aid technology at affordable prices.
• At Annandale Audiology we do not pay our staff commissions on hearing aid sales. This ensures that your hearing aids are selected according to performance and individual suitability and not to favour any hearing aid brand.
• As we are totally independent of hearing device manufacturers, we offer the broadest range of hearing aids so we can suit the needs of all clients.
• You can have total confidence that the hearing aids recommended by your Annandale Audiology health care professional are the best technology for your individual needs.
• We are aware of the aggressive sales tactics that are sometimes used in the hearing-aid market, and as an ethical provider we avoid high pressure salesmanship and unnecessary upselling.
• An expensive hearing aid is not always necessary to get a good result.
• Feel free to call our office at any time to discuss options. A detailed quote can only be provided after assessment with one of our audiologists.
• If hearing aids or devices have been recommended for you, a written quote will be provided to you at your appointment. All quotes are valid for 60 days.
• There is a two-month trial for all hearing aid fitting. During this time the hearing aids can be returned or exchanged for refund less a fitting fee to cover our appointment time.

• MEDICARE
  • At Annandale Audiology,  we provide Medicare rebates on most of our services.
  • To receive a rebate on audiology services you will need to bring a referral from a General Practitioner addressed to the ENT surgeon affiliated with our business, Dr Edward Smith.
  • You are not required to see Dr Smith for an appointment as he is a consultant for our business.
• HEALTH FUNDS
  • Annandale Audiology and Hearing Aids is an accredited provider for all the major health funds.
  • Different health funds offer varying levels of support for hearing health.
  • It is advisable to consult your health fund to find out your hearing service entitlements.

• Annandale Audiology and Hearing Aids is in in Annandale, minutes away from central Sydney and close to Glebe, Balmain, Leichhardt, Haberfield, Lilyfield and Rozelle.
• It is very accessible by public transport, and there is ample unlimited parking just outside the practice

• Appropriate manufacturers’ warranties will apply.
• Our audiologists, Jane and Rebecca are friendly and accessible to their clients, and most importantly are expert in trouble shooting issues with hearing aids.

• Annandale Audiology and Hearing Aids, as an accredited provider under the Commonwealth Government’s Office of Hearing Services (OHS) program for eligible pensioners and DVA clients, offers FREE hearing services.
• If you are an eligible pensioner or DVA client, you are entitled to:
  • a range of free and subsidised hearing services including a comprehensive hearing assessment performed by a qualified hearing practitioner
  • help with your hearing loss and communication needs
  • access to a wide range of high quality devices if required.
  • An optional maintenance package is available for those that decide to be fitted with hearing aids.
  • This allows you to receive repairs and batteries to support your hearing device for a small fee.
• To check if you are eligible for these free services go to the Office of Hearing Services web site  http://www.hearingservices.gov.au