Frequently asked questions.

No. You can book a tinnitus, hyperacusis or hearing assessment directly without a GP referral.

However, a written request from your GP or medical specialist may allow you to claim Medicare rebates for eligible diagnostic audiology tests.

Where eligible diagnostic hearing and middle-ear tests are performed, the combined Medicare rebate may be $65.75, provided all relevant requirements are met.

If you have a history of noise exposure (including workplace noise, loud music or recreational noise), are at risk of hearing damage from certain medications, or have another relevant clinical indication, please ask your GP whether Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) testing should be included on your referral. An additional Medicare rebate of $47.70 may apply if the testing meets Medicare eligibility requirements.

If you need to book a GP appointment solely to obtain a referral, please consider the cost. Your GP's out-of-pocket fee may be greater than the Medicare rebate you receive.

If you already have a GP appointment scheduled, you may prefer to discuss your hearing or tinnitus concerns then.

We work collaboratively with GPs, ENTs and other treating professionals, and provide clinical reports where appropriate.

Your initial comprehensive tinnitus, hyperacusis or misophonia assessment is 90 minutes.

We take the time to explore your symptoms, relevant medical and hearing history, contributing or aggravating factors, and the impact on your everyday life.

Where clinically appropriate, diagnostic audiological testing is included. We then develop an individualised management plan based on your findings.

For many patients, this initial assessment and management plan provide the information and strategies they need to begin making meaningful progress without ongoing specialist treatment.

A Basic Hearing Assessment is 60 minutes and focuses on assessing your hearing.

It does not include specialist tinnitus, hyperacusis or misophonia assessment or management.

Additional diagnostic tests may be recommended depending on your clinical needs and may incur additional fees.

Yes. Patients attending a specialist tinnitus, hyperacusis or misophonia assessment will be asked to complete a pre-appointment questionnaire.

This gives us important background information about your symptoms, medical history and how tinnitus or sound sensitivity is affecting you.

Ninety minutes goes by quickly. Completing the questionnaire beforehand allows us to spend more time on assessment, education and developing your management plan.

If the questionnaire is not completed in advance, an additional appointment may be needed to finish the assessment and management planning. A further consultation fee may apply.

Appointment availability varies, and comprehensive tinnitus assessments are often booked several weeks ahead.

Because these appointments require significant assessment and reporting time, we have limited availability for new patients.

If you cannot find a suitable appointment, please contact us about joining our cancellation or waiting list.

If you have sudden hearing loss or other symptoms requiring urgent medical assessment, please do not wait for our next routine appointment.

You can book online using our online booking system or call us on 0493 753 121.

If you need to reschedule or cancel, please provide at least two days' notice wherever possible.

This gives us an opportunity to offer your appointment to another patient who may be waiting for care.

Yes. A $100 fee applies to missed appointments without adequate notice.

We understand that unexpected circumstances arise. If you are unwell or unable to attend, please contact us as early as possible.

Comprehensive assessments are in high demand, and missed appointments prevent another patient from accessing care.

Following a missed appointment without adequate notice, we may be unable to offer further bookings.

Yes. We discuss your assessment findings during the appointment.

For specialist tinnitus, hyperacusis and misophonia assessments, we also provide practical management strategies tailored to your needs.

Your individualised written specialist assessment report and management plan are generally provided within approximately one week.

For a basic hearing assessment, we explain your hearing results and provide an audiogram and appropriate recommendations.

An initial Comprehensive Tinnitus, Hyperacusis or Misophonia Assessment costs $300 for 90 minutes ($280 for pensioners).

This specialist assessment includes an exploration of your symptoms, relevant diagnostic testing, education and an individualised management plan.

If tinnitus, hyperacusis or misophonia is your main concern, this is the appointment you should book.

A Basic Hearing Assessment costs $120 for 60 minutes and focuses on assessing hearing.

It does not include specialist tinnitus, hyperacusis or misophonia assessment or management.

Additional diagnostic tests, including otoacoustic emissions, extended high-frequency audiometry and acoustic reflexes, may be recommended where clinically appropriate and may attract additional fees.

With an appropriate written request from a medical practitioner, eligible diagnostic tests may attract the following Medicare rebates:

• Diagnostic audiometry (82318): $49.45
• Tympanometry and acoustic reflexes (82324): $16.30
• Otoacoustic emissions (82332): $47.70, where specific Medicare eligibility criteria are met.

Where both standard diagnostic audiometry and middle-ear testing are performed and eligible, the combined Medicare rebate is $65.75.

These rebates relate to eligible diagnostic testing, not the specialist tinnitus consultation or management component of your appointment.

Medicare rebates are subject to applicable MBS requirements and are not guaranteed for every appointment.

Otoacoustic Emissions testing provides additional information about the function of the outer hair cells within the cochlea.

If you have a history of noise exposure, including workplace noise, loud music or recreational noise, are at risk of hearing damage from certain medications, or have another relevant clinical indication, please ask your GP whether OAE testing should be included on your written audiology request.

An additional Medicare rebate of $47.70 may be available when the test is clinically appropriate and the relevant MBS criteria are satisfied.

A history of noise exposure alone does not automatically guarantee eligibility for this rebate.

OAE testing is an additional diagnostic service and is not automatically included in the $120 Basic Hearing Assessment fee.

No. Although Adelaide Tinnitus and Hearing Care is an approved Hearing Services Program provider, the HSP does not fund specialist tinnitus assessments or tinnitus management.

The HSP provides eligible clients with subsidised hearing services, including hearing assessments, hearing devices and associated services within the program's scope.

Specialist tinnitus, hyperacusis and misophonia assessments are separate private services.

Our comprehensive tinnitus assessment costs $300 ($280 for pensioners), regardless of HSP eligibility.

Any applicable Medicare rebates for eligible diagnostic testing are separate from HSP funding and subject to Medicare requirements.

Yes. Adelaide Tinnitus and Hearing Care is an approved provider under the Australian Government Hearing Services Program (HSP).

Eligible clients may access subsidised hearing assessments, hearing devices, fittings and follow-up services through the program.

We offer a range of fully subsidised and partially subsidised hearing devices, depending on your eligibility and individual hearing needs.

It is important to understand that the HSP does not cover specialist tinnitus assessments or tinnitus management.

While we can provide eligible hearing devices through the program, Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) and other specialist tinnitus treatments are separate services and involve out-of-pocket costs.

We will explain the available options and associated costs before proceeding with any tinnitus treatment.

Yes. We provide eligible hearing and tinnitus services for DVA Gold Card holders and White Card holders with relevant accepted conditions.

Hearing loss services may be provided through the Hearing Services Program where eligibility requirements are met.

DVA-funded tinnitus assessment and management follow a separate pathway. Appropriate medical referrals and DVA approval requirements apply.

Tinnitus Retraining Therapy and associated devices may require ENT assessment or clearance and specific DVA authorisation before treatment can proceed.

If you hold a White Card, please ensure the relevant condition has been formally accepted by DVA. A pending claim does not automatically establish eligibility for funded services.

Please contact us before booking so we can explain the relevant referral and funding pathway.

We accept self-managed NDIS clients only.

Please check that the service is consistent with your NDIS plan and funding arrangements before booking.

Some private health insurance policies provide benefits for audiology services or hearing devices.

Coverage depends on your insurer, level of extras cover, the specific service provided and any applicable claiming restrictions.

We recommend contacting your health fund directly before your appointment to confirm your entitlements.

You may also find this guide helpful:

Independent Audiologists Australia — Extras Cover for Audiology and Hearing Devices

Absolutely. Tinnitus can occur with or without hearing loss on a standard audiogram.

Our comprehensive assessment explores the auditory system, relevant medical history, sound tolerance, sleep, stress, jaw and neck factors, and other potential contributors.

We focus on understanding what may be contributing to, exacerbating or maintaining your tinnitus, rather than simply measuring hearing thresholds.

Your management plan is tailored to your individual findings and needs.

Our approach is assessment first. Not everyone needs specialist tinnitus treatment beyond their initial assessment and management plan.

Where further treatment is appropriate, options may include:

• Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT)
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)-informed approaches
• Neuromonics Tinnitus Treatment
• Lenire bimodal neuromodulation
• Oritone Tinnitus Therapy
• Sound therapy and hearing devices

We discuss the suitability, limitations and costs of treatment options based on your individual assessment.

Where appropriate, we collaborate with ENT specialists, psychologists, physiotherapists and other healthcare professionals.

Yes. Hyperacusis and other forms of reduced sound tolerance are an important part of our specialist clinical services.

Our assessment considers your sound tolerance, the nature of your symptoms, associated tinnitus or hearing concerns, and the effect on your daily activities.

Management may involve education, appropriate sound enrichment, gradual desensitisation strategies and other individualised approaches.

We also assess and support people experiencing misophonia.

Yes. As an independent audiology clinic, we are not tied to a single hearing aid manufacturer.

We offer devices from major manufacturers and make recommendations based on your hearing needs, lifestyle, preferences and clinical findings.

A comprehensive assessment is completed before fitting to ensure the devices are appropriate for you.

Hearing aids are programmed and verified using appropriate clinical procedures, including real-ear measurements. We also consider listening comfort, particularly for people experiencing tinnitus or sound sensitivity.

Follow-up care allows us to make adjustments as you adapt to amplification, with continuity of care from the same clinician.

Yes. We provide specialist assessment and management for children experiencing hyperacusis (sound sensitivity) and misophonia.

Our approach is tailored to the child's age, individual needs and the impact their symptoms are having on everyday activities, school and family life.

For childhood hearing loss, we generally refer families to Hearing Australia or other appropriate paediatric audiology services.

Please contact us before booking an appointment for your child so we can discuss their needs and determine the most appropriate assessment or referral pathway.

Our main clinic is located at 40 King William Road, Goodwood, South Australia.

Appointments are available Tuesday to Thursday, with occasional Saturday appointments (approximately once a month) available by arrangement.

Parking: Limited parking is available at the rear of the building, accessed via Simpson Parade.

Additional street parking is available along Simpson Parade and King William Road.

We also consult from ENT rooms in Kent Town on Fridays, for appointments requested by ENT specialists only.

Kent Town appointments are not available through our general online booking system.

Please check your appointment confirmation for the correct location before attending.

Yes, but only for existing patients attending follow-up appointments. Telehealth is available for selected tinnitus management and review consultations where a face-to-face appointment is not required.

Some hearing device adjustments may also be possible remotely for existing patients, depending on the device and available technology.

All initial comprehensive tinnitus, hyperacusis and misophonia assessments must be conducted face to face , as they involve diagnostic audiological testing and a detailed clinical assessment.

If you are an existing patient and would prefer a telehealth follow-up, please contact us to discuss whether this is suitable for your appointment.