Your Questions (FAQs)

We believe that education is the key to helping people in our community.

Here are some common questions (FAQs) that we’re regularly asked by our clients.

Please call, email or enquire online if you can’t find the answer that you’re looking for here. Our hearing specialists are happy to provide advice and discuss any concerns that you may have.

---

Hearing Health

Why is it important I look after my hearing?

Your ear health can affect your ability to fully enjoy life and result in embarrassment or loss of confidence in social situations due to difficulties with conversation. It can also leave you at risk of missing important warning sounds, such as traffic or smoke alarms.

How often should I have my hearing tested?

Your ears are constantly growing and changing, as are the environments that have an impact on your hearing. It’s a good idea to have your hearing checked once every couple of years, especially if you:

• experience a sudden loss or change in your hearing
• notice a difference between each of your ears
• have a known hereditary condition

If you wear hearing aids, we suggest an annual review to ensure that your hearing aids are still working well as we can tweak them to suit.

 Did you know?

• Male vs female – yes it is true, men are more likely to suffer from hearing loss than women.
• Approximately 3 in 10 people over the age of 60 years old are likely to suffer from some hearing loss.
• Use it or loose it – studies have shown that by stimulating your hearing your brain will better recognise and interpret sound.
• The most common cause of hearing loss in New Zealand is due to noise exposure. Loud noises, even one-off noise exposure can damage your ears. That’s why it’s important to wear hearing protection when you:
  • Operate machinery – even mowing the lawns
  • Play loud music or visit concerts
  • Hunting or working with explosives

---

Appointments with Us

Do I need a referral?

No, you don’t need a doctors referral to come and see us – you can make an appointment by phoning, emailing or booking online – it’s easy!

I’m worried about having an assessment, what can I expect?

Our clinicians understand that this appointment is a big step for some people. Don’t worry you’re in safe hands, the assessment is completely painless and non-invasive, we’ll take care of you.

Have you been recommended hearing aids and given a quote that you simply couldn’t afford?

We don’t believe that people should go without and it’s because of this that our company began. We aim to help more people by providing an affordable service that is accessible to everyone, not just those with a higher income and we definitely don’t skimp on quality. Please call us to discuss how your hearing issues can be resolved.

Are my consultations confidential?

All appointments with us are treated confidentially. If you need to see an ENT doctor or another medical professional, we’ll make sure that you’re comfortable for us to send a letter onto the specialist and only ever do this with your consent.

---

Care and Maintenance of Hearing Aids

How often does my hearing aid need to be serviced?

This all depends on your lifestyle. If you take care of your hearing aid and regularly clean it, then we recommend that you bring it into see us once a year. If you work in a dusty environment or outdoors, you may find that your hearing aid needs to be serviced every 3 – 6 months.

How much does a service cost?

This depends on the task at hand. In-house service repair costs start at just $20. If your hearing aid needs to be sent away, the manufacturer will provide us with a quote and the cost of this will be discussed with you before your hearing aid is repaired.

The quality and life of your hearing aids can be reduced by environmental factors.

There are some simple things that you can do at home to take care of your hearing aids:

• Regularly clean your moulds, domes and tubes
• Keep your hearing aids and batteries away from moisture
• Use good quality batteries
• Remove batteries if storing your hearing aids for long periods
• Replace tubing and domes regularly
• Service your hearing aids annually

How do I keep my hearing aids dry?

You can reduce the effects of moisture on your hearing aids by using a drying unit or dry crystals. Both of these products can be purchased from our clinic.

If you’re having a shower or bath we recommend that you leave your hearing aids in your bedroom, where they won’t be damaged by water, moisture or steam. Likewise, be careful when you’re outdoors and around water.

What other environmental factors cause moisture?

• Condensation
• Climate and season changes
• Sport and perspiration

How do I ensure my hearing aids are covered?

We always recommend that you contact your insurance company to guarantee that your policy will cover your hearing aids. Generally there is no charge for this, however it does give you piece of mind that your hearing aids will be replaced, and to what degree, if they are lost or damaged.

Insurance claims can be more common than you think, no matter how careful you are.

---

Batteries

How long will my batteries last?

This depends on how many hours per day you use your hearing aid as well as the type of hearing aid, program and volume settings. We generally suggest that you can expect an average size battery to last about 5 – 18 days but this will vary significantly depending on the size and brand that you buy.

Do hearing aid batteries expire?

Yes, they do. You will find the expiry date on the reverse of your battery pack as this does vary significantly.

If you’re not using your hearing aid for a few weeks, we suggest the you remove the battery from your hearing aid to minimise the risk of damage from battery leaks or corrosion caused by old batteries.

We also recommend that you take special care of your batteries and store them in a dry place at room temperature. Please do not store your batteries in the fridge or freezer as this will cause them to take on moisture and corrode.

It’s crucial that batteries are stored out of the reach of children as they are very small and poisonous, if swallowed.

How do I buy more batteries?

You can purchase your batteries from our clinic, by phone or completing the form above.

Pickup from our clinic

Please call us in advance and we’ll ensure that your preferred battery brand and correct size is put aside for you to collect from our clinic – please see our open hours.

Delivered to you

We’re happy to post your preferred battery brand and correct size out to you. Please complete the form above or phone us to place your order and arrange payment; we can charge this to your credit card or you can transfer the funds into our bank account.

Helpful Info