what we do
Little Bird Audiology provides diagnostic hearing assessment and treatment services.
Diagnostic testing includes a thorough assessment of your outer, middle and inner ear function, as well as measures of how well you understand speech in both quiet environments and with background noise.
It is essential to have a full diagnostic test to determine if there may be any means of improving your hearing, such as surgery, or if there may be an underlying condition that requires further medical investigation. Prior to the assessment, we advise having your ears checked for wax so that we can obtain accurate results on the day. Please contact us for the list of local ear cleaning services if a GP or ENT has not checked recently.
Treatment may involve consultation and advice, referral to other professionals if needed, and provision of amplification (hearing aids and other technological solutions).
If you are considering trying hearing aids, it is important to undergo a hearing needs assessment so that we can best understand your individual needs and preferences. This process ensures that we not only choose the best hearing aids for you of the many thousands that are available, but also that we determine any funding that you might qualify for. We would encourage you to bring your partner, a close friend, or family member to this appointment so that we can fully understand your communication needs.
HOW MUCH DOES AN APPOINTMENT COST?
Testing, consultation, and tuning of existing hearing aids is charged at a rate of $130 incl GST per hour. Please note that we offer a 15% discount for some patients (specifically for those who have a current Community Services Card and/or are registered volunteers at The Brook Waimārama Sanctuary).
Below is a guide of the typical time services take. Please bear in mind that if your condition is significantly more complicated, further time may be required. See FAQs for further detail about appointment types.
Hearing Assessment: 60 minutes (ages 5 and up)
Hearing Needs Assessment 30-60 minutes: (to determine best hearing aids for you and discuss any potential funding avenues)
Existing Hearing Aid Tuning: 30-60 minutes (accurate tuning requires a recent assessment)
Otoscopy and Tympanometry only: 30 minutes (any age, to check for “glue ear” or wax)
Ear impressions for custom hearing protection, sleep plugs, and swim plugs: 30 minutes
Payment is due at the time of the appointment via Eftpos, Credit Card, Bank Transfer or Cash. If you have Southern Cross Insurance, your policy may cover some or all of the consultation cost. Little Bird Audiology is an Affiliated Provider for Southern Cross.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO GET HEARING AIDS?
The cost of hearing aids involves the retail cost of the aids plus a service fee. You very likely will also qualify for some type of funding assistance which will reduce the cost.
The retail cost varies from about $500 to more than $4000 (incl GST) per hearing aid (including the hearing aid subsidy). In general, the greater the cost, the better the features within the hearing aid to help you hear in complex listening environments such as understanding speech in a busy restaurant. Additional features and accessories such as custom ear moulds, rechargeable models, and remote microphones will add to this cost. We work with six different hearing aid suppliers, negotiating discounts with each. We pass these discounts on to you, meaning some manufacturers are more cost effective than others. We have no particular financial incentive to recommend a brand of hearing aids or more expensive model. We base our treatment recommendations on your needs.
Our service package costs $1725 (incl GST). This includes fitting, any follow-up appointments needed during the trial period, an opportunity to trial an alternative if unsatisfied with the first choice, and some ongoing appointments for the expected life of the hearing aids. A service package is important to ensure that the devices continue to meet your needs.
We also offer a full refund (less the cost of custom earmoulds and professional time) should you wish to return the hearing aids within the 8-week trial period.
CAN I GET FUNDING FOR HEARING AIDS?
Funding will be thoroughly discussed during the hearing needs assessment to ensure that you are accessing any available funding that you might qualify for. As a fully certified Audiologists, Jackie and Anita are able to access all of the available funding streams in New Zealand (e.g. ACC, Ministry of Health, Veteran’s Affairs). Almost every NZ resident qualifies for at least a subsidy of $511.11 per hearing aid but other funding options can cover the full cost. We are happy to work with you to find an effective treatment option that meets your budget.