Comprehensive Diagnostic Hearing Test (5 years and older)

COMPREHENSIVE DIAGNOSTIC HEARING TEST BATTERY 

Bulk Billed with GP referral.  Service costs $300 with no referral. 

This battery of tests gives the Audiologist the greatest scope to investigate your Hearing, Middle  Ear,  and Auditory System from the cochlear to the brainstem if required., It may be useful for differential diagnosis helping the GP or specialist zoom in on the cause your concerns and eliminate unlikely causes and provide the most appropriate treatment or management options.  The tests are covered in greater detail further on this page and in the rest of the services menu.  This protocol includes following tests where appropriate

(EXTENDED RANGE HEARING TEST AIR (250 Hz to 20000 Hz Testing the full range of human hearing not just the speech range) , BONE, SPEECH, TYMPANOMETRY and IPSI REFLEXES, OTOACOUSTIC EMMISSIONS (OAE),  Additional Cochlear testing may be performed at times such as Tinnitus Pitch Matching, Minimum Masking Levels (MML),Uncomfortable Loudness Levels (UCL), Weber, Sisi, Stenger, Tone Decay Tests, or diagnostic speech tests like Ling 6, Quick SIN, and Speech Roll Over Tests, depending on your results and clinical needs.

Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) is also performed if clinically warranted to rule out retro cochlear pathology such as acoustic neuroma.   There must be a significant sensorineural hearing asymmetry (difference between the right and left ears.  Protocol is to test if there is a hearing  asymmetry at 2 frequencies of 15  dB. or more.  Alternatively one frequency with a  larger asymmetry of 20 dB or more or more would also be investigated and reported).

Medicare Items may include (82318 or 82315, 82324, 82300, 82332, 82306)

Reports are generally completed and sent via our password protected email or fax within 7 days. 

This service does not attract a Medicare Rebate nor can it be Bulk Billed.

 Includes Air/Bone/Masking and report including percentage hearing loss if required.   Speech testing, Tympanometry or free field testing with the hearing aids in can also be done if required.

Hearing testing is conducted by a Masters Qualified Audiologist using the MEDRX AWRC Audiometer in a soundproof booth.  The pitches across the speech range from 250 Hz to 8000 Hz including mid octaves are generally required by employers and GP practices.  

Hearing requirements may vary across different professions and even across companies, so please bring any paper work with you to the appointment so we know exactly the information that they require.

Bundaberg Hearing Aids and Tinnitus Treatment Clinic is open some Saturdays.  Bulk testing can be arranged all in a single day with a minimum of 10 people.  

This testing is suitable for Pre-employment medicals, Heavy Truck license hearing tests, CASA hearing tests and ongoing hearing monitoring for those that work in loud environments. This is now required by law in Queensland via modifications made  to the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 from 29 July 2025.  This applies to all workplaces with loud noise levels which exceed exposure standards and require hearing protection. New workers must be tested by law within 3 months and follow up tests conducted every 2 years.  For clients with hearing aids - aided threshold (using the hearing aids) testing can be performed through the free field, so the safety and efficacy of your Aided Hearing can be established.

Given that requirements are stricter now for Hearing Monitoring in QLD many GP practices will send the client to an Audiology Clinic such as ours https://bundaberghearingaids.net.au/ to ensure that a suitably qualified audiologist is testing in a sound proof environment to meet all the requirements of the legislation.  We have a good relationship with the the staff at Burnett Medical, who offer a range of Pre-employment services https://burnettmedical.com.au/services/employment-medicals/

and we are one of their partners to perform the Hearing Testing component for the Pre-employment testing and endeavour to get your results back to the GP or Employer as fast as possible.  If you require it the same day please advise when you make the appointment.

Many companies have slightly different testing requirements so please bring any paper work to your appointment.  If your employer is paying for the test we will need notification from them in writing or email prior to sending your results, so it is best to organise this before the appointment.    It is more common for the client to have to pay for this, and get reimbursed if they get the position.  No Medicare rebate or bulk billing is available for Pre employment testing under Medicare regulations.

Bulk Billed with GP referral.  Service costs $300 with no referral.  

Hearing Testing for Children before they can reliably respond around age 5 requires specialised equipment, a good attitude, and a bit of luck on the day.  This testing is sensitive to sound, movement, and ABR to mobile phone interference.  Testing the younger children if they are tired or asleep can be easier.   The Test Battery that we use within Bundaberg Hearing Aids and Tinnitus Treatment Clinic includes Oto-Acoustic Emissions (OAE) to measure outer hair cell function, Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR), where brainwaves latencies (timing), shape, and difference between the ears, are measured to get an estimate of hearing ability.  We also use Tympanometry to rule out any middle ear pathology such as Glue Ear  or perforations (holes) in the ear drum which could confound the results.  We will often try and get part of the Adult Hearing Test as well but this depends on the child's age and ability on the day,  The results are explained on the day by the Audiologist, and a report sent to the referring  GP or Specialist...   None of the above testing can be performed with a crying child so we try and support a relaxed environment for them but it does depend on how they are feeling on the day of course as to how much of the testing we can complete.  If the Child Hearing Test  can't be continued we will retry the testing, in the future again depending on the parent's wishes and urgency for the results.   If there is a hearing loss all children and young adults with confirmed hearing loss are entitled to services subsidised by the Federal Government Hearing Services Program until they turn 26 years old.  These services may include Hearing Aids, FM systems, counselling and more from Hearing Australia.  

Here is a link to those services.  This will take you to the Hearing Australia Website with who we are not affiliated.

https://www.hearing.com.au/children-young-adult-services/our-services-to-you/