Q&A with Audiologist Nick Ng
In this article today, our audiologist Nicholas Ng will be answering some of your top questions about hearing care and services. But first, we'll introduce you to him:
Nick has been with us for 3 years now and shares our passion for delivering you the highest quality care.
He holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons), Masters of Clinical Audiology, and is a full Member of Audiology Australia with a Certificate of Clinical Practice—he certainly knows what he's talking about when it comes to hearing!
How and why did you study audiology?
"Before I studied audiology, I was in the field of medical research and neuroscience. Although theoretically stimulating; practically, it can be a solitary and painfully repetitive profession. I believe you need to be a certain kind of person to thrive in that industry and I probably wasn’t that person. I'm more of a social character and wanted to work with people while improving their quality of life, and with a strong desire to utilize my science background, this led me to audiology."
Here are his answers to your questions:
What pension/seniors benefits do I get?
"For government pensioners, we offer $1200 off pairs of hearing aids, and 10% off hearing aids for Seniors Card holders."
Is Maria Brown Hearing Clinic associated with government?
"No, we are completely independent and privately-owned, which allows us to offer you more advanced hearing technologies and more personal care."
Can I get government free-to-client aids via Maria Brown Hearing Clinic?
"No, we don’t have access to government hearing care initiatives or funding. You are however able to purchase hearing aids from any of our manufacturers through us (we also offer finance)."
What type of hearing aids do you offer?
"Because we're an independent hearing care provider, we can offer you a wide range of hearing aids from a range of manufacturers. We have all sizes and types, ranging from Behind-the-Ear (BTE) to Invisible In the Canal (IIC) hearing aids."
What is the price range of your hearing aids?
"This varies by hearing aid, but we focus on the top 3 technology tiers as we find they deliver the best results. These range typically from $5,000 to $9,000. Budget options are also available (around $2,500 mark). We also offer interest-free, no upfront payment finance options."
Can I use my hearing aids with my TV and phone?
"Yes, but it depends on your technology level and the model of the hearing aids you have.
Some offer integrated phone streaming for calls and music, Just like Bluetooth earphones. For TV streaming, however, an accessory is required to stream audio from your television."
Do you offer children’s hearing tests?
"Yes, we do offer children’s hearing tests, but they need to be 5 years of age or above for proper testing. A $90 payment is required for the initial test, but any follow-up appointments are free of charge."
I suffer from tinnitus. Do you offer anything to help with this?
"Yes, we do. Tinnitus most commonly accompanies a hearing loss, so the first point of call is to have your hearing tested; we can then consider options for therapy to ease your tinnitus."
Do you offer custom earplugs?
"Yes, we offer custom earplugs for activities like swimming and for noise exposure. You have two main options with custom earplugs:
In-house. We create these based on an impression of your ear and they are slightly less functional but more affordable. $90/pair
Manufacturer-made. Impressions are sent off to manufacturers for advanced imaging and tailored production. $200/pair
Your hearing care professional will walk you through the pros and cons of each during an impression appointment."
Thank you to Nick for taking the time to talk with me today!
We both hope that this 'Q&A' has answered some of your questions about what assistance and care are available to you.
Would you like to hear your friends and family again?
A hearing test only takes 15 minutes and is completely free to you. To book today, call us now on 1300 797 519