FAQ

Why do you charge more than other clinics?

Audiologists do not receive any funding from the Ministry of Health for our professional time. Our clinicians each have more than 20 years of specialised experience in treating hearing loss. We have significant costs to run the business and also need to make a living. Most clinics drastically undercharge for services that they provide, and do not actually make any money unless they fit hearing aids. We choose a different and more transparent model. We feel that charging a fair price for our time allows us to provide honest advice with no sales pressure. Though we charge more for our time, people are often surprised at how cost effective hearing aids can be, should they choose to pursue this.

i’m having trouble hearing. What will happen on my first visit?

We start with an open conversation regarding the reason for your visit and what you would like to achieve. We’ll then complete an audiological history form to better understand any factors that may have affected your hearing.

Next we assess your outer ear by having a look down your ear canal. If you are interested in seeing your eardrum, we have a video otoscope and would be happy to show you. Common findings that can impact hearing and/or ear health are excessive ear wax, holes in the ear drum, and exostosis, which is also known as “surfer’s ear”.

Next we have a look at bit further in to the area called the middle ear. For this, we use an advanced piece of diagnostic equipment called a tympanometer. A rubber tip will be placed into your ear and you will feel a slight change in pressure which will be followed by some loud beeping sounds. This quick test gives us important information about the function of your ear drum, the tiny bones and muscles in your ear, and also your auditory nerve.

Now it is time to head into the sound booth. It is essential for audiological testing to be conducted in an extremely quiet environment. We have invested in a top of the line booth to ensure both accuracy of testing and your comfort. While in the booth, we will obtain an audiogram which is a graphic representation of the quietest sounds that you can hear. We will also conduct speech testing to determine your ability to understand words in quiet. If you are interested, we can also conduct a speech in noise test, which assesses your ability to understand speech when others are talking in the background.

We will then review the results together and a recommendation will be made as to how to best address your reason for the visit. This may involve referral to other professionals, provision of information and resources, regular monitoring, and/or considering improving your hearing with technology. If you are interested in a hearing aid trial, it is important that we have additional time together to conduct a hearing needs assessment, as described previously. If there is insufficient time on the day of your initial visit, a further appointment may need to be arranged.

Can I arrange an Appointment to have the wax cleared out of my ears?

Yes, and well you should, but not with us. There are numerous individuals in the community that specialise in microsuction wax removal. Please contact us for the current list of the fine people that provide this service in our region.

What Exactly is Involved in a Hearing needs assessment appointment?

Once we have determined that you are both a candidate for hearing aids and that you are interested in trying them, it is important that we sit down and have a discussion to ensure that you are trying the best ones for you.

This involves firstly an open but structured conversation to gain an understanding of the specific areas in your life that you would like to improve in terms of your hearing. I’ll ask you some questions about your home life, work, community involvement, interests and social activities. From this discussion, we will be able to establish goals for what you would like to achieve with the hearing aids. An example of this might be “To better understand what is said at family gatherings.” We will revisit these goals during the hearing aid trial process to ensure that the hearing aids are providing you with good benefit.

We will go through the various funding avenues to determine what assistance you might qualify for. There are numerous funding options and organisations that can assist with the cost of hearing aids. Some of these include ACC, Veteran’s Affairs, the Ministry of Health, and WINZ. Some funding pathways cover the full cost of hearing aids, for others it a partial contribution.

Next we’ll discuss any experience that you have with hearing aids and whether you have any preferences in terms of style and features. The benefits and disadvantages of all available hearing aid styles will be discussed. Interestingly what the hearing aid looks like has no correlation to what it costs. The cost depends on the level of technology inside of it. We’ll also talk about your preferences in terms of features like rechargeability, connectivity to smart phones, and additional accessories such as remote microphones.

Different options and costs will discussed, and once a particular model is agreeable to you, I will give you a quote which will detail the cost of the hearing aids we’ve decided upon and the services involved to ensure a successful outcome. It is entirely your decision on whether to proceed or not with a hearing aid fitting.

CAn I get a second opinion from you?

Of course! Patients often contact us for more thorough investigations and advice on treatment options. If you have had a recent test, we often don’t need to repeat the basics but further assessment into areas such as loudness tolerance and ability to understand speech in background noise helps us to tailor treatment recommendations and/or tune existing hearing devices.

my child/baby seems to be having trouble hearing

Though Jackie and Anita both hold specialty certification in paediatric testing and treatment, the clinic is designed with adults in mind. Children are able to access free services at the local hospital. Consider having them seen there in the first instance. Referrals to the hospital Audiology Department are accepted from GPs, ENTs, Paediatricians, Audiologists, hearing screeners, speech language therapists, public health nurses, etc.

The hospital’s waiting list can be impacted by staffing shortages and other unforeseen events. If you would rather pay for a private appointment so that your child can be seen sooner, we are able to provide diagnostic assessments for developmental ages 5 and up. If you are interested in otoscopy & tympanometry only to check for wax and “glue ear,” there is no age restriction.

Do you provide assessments and treatment for auditory processing Disorders?

No. Apologies, but we do not specialise in APD. There are other private providers that do but none locally as far as we are aware. Some specialty clinics are able to provide testing, advice and treatment via telehealth. The first step though is a comprehensive diagnostic hearing test to rule out any peripheral hearing loss, as often hearing loss presents very similarly to APD. Diagnostic testing must be done in person and we are happy to provide this service.

my loved one is having trouble hearing

Often hearing difficulties are more obvious to others than they are to the person who has a hearing issue. The primary reason for this is that hearing loss typically comes on very gradually over many years. Another factor is that our brains make sense of what is said by filling in the gaps, so the person who is hard of hearing might not actually be aware of everything that they are missing. The brain has to work harder to fill in the gaps the worse someone’s hearing problem is. Communication becomes increasingly frustrating and starts to become a real concern when people are not able to participate as they used to.

This frustration often leads loved ones into pushing for those they care about to get help. Unfortunately, though we know hearing aids improve quality of life, some people are highly reluctant to wear them. If someone you care about has untreated hearing loss that you are concerned about, be kind and supportive. Focus on how the issue affects you and makes you feel. Encourage them to seek help. It is essential that the person who is hard of hearing is an active participant in the rehabilitation process.

Do I have to have a hearing aid?

No one has to have a hearing aid. It’s your choice. If you are interested in hearing better, hearing aids are a possible and typically highly effective solution but there are many other options to improve your communication. These might include learning strategies such as lip reading, completing auditory training exercises, or learning sign language.

If you choose to try hearing aids and find that the benefit you receive isn’t worth the cost, at Little Bird Audiology, you are welcome to return them within 8 weeks of the fitting for a refund. There is no obligation to keep hearing aids if you are not satisfied with the outcome.

I’m nervous!

It’s totally normal to feel a bit anxious before you visit an audiologist for the first time, but we are here to help you once again enjoy the sounds in your world. You’ll find our services friendly, empathetic, and professional. We promise to explain every aspect of the procedures as we go, and answer any questions you may have. As we charge for our time, we have no incentive to pressure you into any treatment. We will work with you to find the best solution to whatever hearing issue you have.

You might first consider seeing one of the wonderful organisations in our community that support people that are hard of hearing. Our region is very lucky to have an active and highly effective Hearing Association, Hearing Nelson. Click here to find out more about the services they provide. I have a close association with Hearing Nelson as I lease a room from them for my clinic. I would also strongly recommend contacting Your Way Kia Roha (previously known as Life Unlimited) to meet with a Hearing Therapist for a consultation about your communication needs and options. This is a free service that is partially funded by the Ministry of Health. Click here to find out more.