PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
The services of Better Hearing Australia (Vic) complement those of health professionals working with adults who have acquired hearing loss.
We can offer clients a more extensive aural rehabilitation service. Better Hearing Australia (Vic) is well-resourced through government funding and our staff have the professional qualifications and expertise to deliver effective services.
CLIENT REFERALS
While many clients self-refer to Better Hearing Australia (Vic), audiologists, general practitioners and ear, nose and throat specialists are welcome to refer their clients to us for further information and advice. We can advise and inform individuals or small groups about hearing loss and tinnitus management. Individual consultations can be either in person or via phone.
CLIENT NEEDS
Clients commonly request information on the following:
→ Understanding the hearing process
→ Understanding hearing test results
→ Explanation of the programs and features of hearing aids
→ Explanation and demonstration of telecoil & audio loops
→ General communication concerns.
We find that often clients:
→ Have not understood the process of getting used to wearing a hearing aid successfully, particularly if there has been long-term auditory deprivation
→ Have unrealistic expectations about hearing aids restoring normal hearing
→ Lack understanding about hearing aids not providing more clarity of speech
→ Are not employing communication strategies to help them and their significant others communicate more easily and effectively
→ Are unaware of the assistive hearing technology that is available (telephone devices, TV listening devices, personal listening systems and alerting systems).
→ Many clients express a wish that they had known earlier about the hearing technology that makes life so much more manageable for them. We also find that clients want to talk about their own hearing loss story.
WORKSHOPS
Our Hearing Loss Management Workshops are particularly ideal for individuals who are in the early stages of addressing their hearing loss problems and wearing hearing aids. Workshops can be delivered at your place of work.
