Do you have hearing loss and you live in Margate? Whether you have noticed it yourself or someone close to you has raised concerns, getting accurate information is the best place to start.
Hearing loss is not always obvious in its early stages. It tends to arrive gradually, and many people find they have been quietly compensating for it — turning up volumes, watching faces intently during conversation, or simply avoiding noisier situations — without realising that is what they are doing. If this sounds familiar, a professional hearing assessment can give you a clear picture of what is happening and what your options might be.
Tinnitus and Hearing Loss: A Common Combination
For many people, tinnitus — a ringing, buzzing, or hissing sound in one or both ears — is the first sign that something has changed with their hearing. Tinnitus is not a condition in itself but a symptom, and it is often associated with some degree of hearing loss.
If you have noticed a persistent sound in your ears that others cannot hear, it is worth having both your hearing and your tinnitus assessed properly. Hearing Help provides tinnitus support as part of a broader hearing care service, and your audiologist can discuss what management strategies may be helpful in your situation. Outcomes vary from person to person, and your audiologist will be honest about what to realistically expect.
Common Signs That Hearing Has Changed
Hearing loss affects people differently depending on which frequencies are affected and how significant the change is. Some of the signs that commonly bring people in for an assessment include:
Following group conversations has become effortful — particularly in cafes, at family gatherings, or in any setting with competing voices
Mishearing words rather than missing them entirely — for example, confusing similar-sounding words in conversation
Needing to concentrate much harder than before to follow what people are saying
Noticing that high-pitched sounds — a doorbell, a bird, certain voices — are harder to hear
Feeling unusually drained after social interactions that involve a lot of listening
Avoiding phone calls because following the conversation is too difficult
If several of these ring true, an assessment is a sensible step. It is straightforward and non-invasive, and does not commit you to any course of action.
What Causes Hearing Loss?
Hearing loss has a range of causes, and many adults find that several factors have contributed over their lifetime.
Age-related change is the most common cause for adults over 50. The inner ear's sensory cells naturally reduce in function over time. This gradual shift — known as presbycusis — affects most people to varying degrees and tends to affect higher frequencies first. This is why background noise can feel particularly overwhelming: the speech sounds that help distinguish words often sit in the higher frequency range.
Noise exposure accumulated over decades is another significant factor. Years of working in loud environments or regular exposure to high-decibel recreational activities can cause permanent changes to hearing. Ear protection use — or lack of it — earlier in life often shapes what someone's hearing looks like in their 60s and 70s.
Earwax accumulation can cause temporary but sometimes significant hearing difficulties. Many people are surprised to discover how much of a difference removing a blockage can make. Hearing Help provides microsuction earwax removal — a safe, gentle technique that avoids the discomfort of older syringing methods.
Underlying health conditions such as otosclerosis (abnormal bone growth in the middle ear), Meniere's disease, or certain autoimmune conditions can also affect hearing. An audiologist can identify when a referral to an ear, nose and throat specialist may be appropriate.
Understanding a Hearing Assessment
A professional hearing assessment is straightforward and entirely non-invasive. At Hearing Help, adult assessments take around 45 to 60 minutes and follow a structured process:
1. Health and lifestyle discussion — understanding your day-to-day hearing challenges and any relevant medical history 2. Otoscopy — a gentle visual inspection of the ear canal and eardrum 3. Pure-tone audiometry — the standard hearing test, where you respond to a series of tones at different pitches and volumes through headphones 4. Speech discrimination — testing how clearly you can understand spoken words, not just hear sounds 5. Results and discussion — your audiologist will explain your audiogram clearly and talk through what it means for your daily life
The aim is not to push you toward any particular product or outcome. It is to give you reliable information so you can make an informed decision.
Modern Hearing Aids: What Has Changed
If hearing aids are part of the conversation following your assessment, it is worth knowing that the technology has moved on significantly. Today's devices are considerably more discreet, more comfortable, and smarter than devices from even ten years ago. Many styles sit completely within the ear canal and are barely visible. Most connect via Bluetooth to phones and televisions.
That said, hearing aids are not one-size-fits-all, and they work differently for different people. Your audiologist will help you understand what is realistic for your type and degree of hearing loss.
Hearing Services Program Eligibility
Eligible Australians can access subsidised hearing care through the Australian Government Hearing Services Program. If you hold a Pensioner Concession Card, a DVA Gold or White Card, or certain other concessions, you may qualify for assessments and hearing devices funded under the program. Hearing Help is an approved provider and can check your eligibility when you book.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an audiogram? An audiogram is the chart produced from a pure-tone hearing test. It maps the softest sounds you can hear at different frequencies and is the standard tool audiologists use to understand the type and degree of hearing loss. Your audiologist will walk you through yours and explain what it shows.
Can I access the Hearing Services Program without a GP referral? In many cases, yes. Your audiologist can advise you on the specific requirements when you contact us.
I have tinnitus but no obvious hearing loss. Is an assessment still useful? Yes. Tinnitus and hearing loss often co-exist even when the hearing loss is subtle. An assessment can clarify whether there is an underlying hearing change and open the door to strategies that may help manage the tinnitus.
Contact Hearing Help
Margate residents are welcome to get in touch with Hearing Help to ask any questions or to book an adult hearing assessment. Our team works at your pace — no pressure, no rush.