Why It Pays To Consult A Member of Independent Audiologists Australia

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When hearing loss affects seniors, as it so often does, seeking help is essential to maintain an active and connected lifestyle – key factors known to be important for reducing the chance of developing dementia. Your local member of Independent Audiologists Australia is university qualified in audiology, operates and owns a local independent clinic and works to a code of ethics, which sets a standard of practice that matches the ethics you expect of your GP and other medical specialists you consult. 

Members of Independent Audiologists Australia operate 350 clinics across Australia.  Look for the IAA logo and membership certificate.  If an audiologist is not an IAA member, even if they call themselves independent, they are possibly not operating the clinic independently or meeting IAA practice standards.

When your audiologist is a member of IAA, you are assured you will receive independent advice from a qualified healthcare professional.

You can find clinics operated by IAA members on the IAA website under our “find” section.

When there is a higher demand for any product or service, providers pop up seemingly out of nowhere to provide that product or service to consumers. Unfortunately, not all hearing aid clinics are created equal. They don’t always have professional standards, and many have dollar signs—rather than your care—as their primary concern and motivation.

Each year, the Australia Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) investigates a growing number of complaints against hearing aid clinics. Consumers often receive treatment from untrained and unqualified staff and are often sold and oversold on hearing aids and equipment they don’t even need.

There are two financially-related issues to consider when choosing a clinic. If a clinic you are thinking of using offers either one of these, they are likely not a member of IAA, so think twice about getting your audiology advice or hearing aid from them.

First, most independent audiologists do not offer free hearing tests as a gimmick to get you in the door. There is great value in a hearing test, and it is well worthwhile paying for a full assessment. The audiologist will first listen to your symptoms, then decide on the hearing test best suited to determine your current hearing ability.  A full hearing assessment by an audiologist should take between 30 and 60 minutes.

Second, ask if the staff receive commissions and incentives for selling hearing aids and related equipment.  IAA members typically employ salaried staff who do not receive sales commissions. Paying salaries to qualified and ethical staff ensures that YOUR best interest is always in the forefront.  Choice of a hearing aid should be based on your hearing loss, your lifestyle and your budget but never on whether commission is going into the back pocket of your audiologist.

Visit https://independentaudiologists.net.au

Email: exec@independentaudiologists.net.au or Tel: 0424 720 915.

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