Audiology

About us

Audiologists at Southern Health provide primary hearing health care, specialising in the prevention of hearing loss and in the identification, assessment, diagnosis, management, and treatment of hearing disorders.  The Audiology Department provides comprehensive diagnostic audiological services to all patients of Southern Health.
We accept internal referrals from all Southern Health programs and routinely see patients attending Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT), Cleft Palate, Paediatric Hearing Loss Investigation Clinic (PHLIC) and Turners clinics. We also accept external referrals from such agencies as general practitioners, ENT specialists, paediatricians, maternal and child health nurses, speech pathologists, school nurses etc.
The service operates at Monash Medical Centre, Clayton and at Cranbourne Integrated Care Centre.

 

Services Offered

All services are by appointment only.

 

Audiological Assessment

The department provides hearing assessments for newborns, infants, children and adults. Both sites offer the same services, with the exception of hearing aid fitting and testing under sedation, which are only provided at Clayton. We are a designated centre of excellence providing diagnostic audiological services for the Victorian Infant Hearing Screening Program (VIHSP).

Each consultation involves a hearing assessment, middle ear function testing and speech audiometry (if applicable). Different tests are used depending on the age and developmental level of the patient. Cortical Evoked Response Audiometry can be performed on adult clients suspected of having non-organic hearing loss, if requested.

 

Specialised Tests include:

  • Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) testing for adults (site of lesion) and infants (threshold);
  • Auditory Steady State Response (ASSR);
  • Electrocochleography (ECoG);
  • Cortical Evoked Response Audiometry (CERA);
  • Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE);
  • Acoustic Reflex testing.

Objective testing can be performed under sedation for children to confirm suspected hearing loss, or for children who have been difficult to assess with behavioural techniques, (Clayton only).

 

Hearing Aids:

Hearing Aid fitting is available at Clayton for eligible patients (non-pensioners over 21 years of age). We also offer a basic repair service for Clayton inpatients with faulty hearing aids. Please note that if hearing aids requiring more extensive repair, the patient or patient’s family must organise this via their original hearing aid provider.

  • Children and patients under 21 in need of hearing aids are seen at Australian Hearing (a Commonwealth Government agency) for minimal cost. These patients can be referred by the Audiology Department.
  • Patients on a pension are eligible for hearing aids for minimal cost through the Commonwealth Government’s Office of Hearing Services (OHS). Referrals to OHS must be arranged via a medical practitioner.

 

Assistive Listening Devices

A range of listening devices are available on loan for hard of hearing and hearing impaired Clayton inpatients.

 

Ear Plugs

Supply and fitting of pre-moulded or custom made swimmers plugs and Ear Wraps, and custom made noise and musicians ear plugs is available.

 

Internal referrals

See details on Southern Health Intranet.

 

External referrals

A written referral is preferred, but not essential. We accept referrals from all sources such as:

  • general practitioners,
  • ENT specialists,
  • paediatricians,
  • maternal and child health nurses,
  • speech pathologists,
  • Australian Hearing,
  • school nurses,
  • teachers,
  • parents etc.

All external patients are billed and rebated through Medicare. A doctor or specialist’s referral will maximise the Medicare rebate, but is not essential. Infants under 4 months of age are bulk-billed (no out-of-pocket expense).

 

Quality

Audiologists are university graduates who have extensive specialist training at post-graduate level. All staff are members of the Audiological Society of Australia (ASA) and participate in the ASA’s continuing professional development program or clinical graduate internship. The audiological services offered are also subject to the quality assurance program of Southern Health, including test protocols and peer review of performance.

 

Contact us

Monash Medical Centre - Clayton
The department is located within Outpatients, (opposite dental) level 2 ground floor.
T:  (03) 9594 2428
F:  (03) 9594 6556
Hours of Service    Monday – Friday 9:00am – 5:00pm.
Closed Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays
Inpatient services: Provided by appointment
Outpatient Services:  Provided by appointment

Cranbourne Integrated Care Centre
140 - 154 Sladen Street
Cranbourne VIC 3977
T:  (03) 5990 6180
F:  (03) 5990 6179
Hours of Service    Monday – Friday 9:00am – 5:00pm.
Closed Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays
We are Victoria’s largest public Audiology service in terms of staffing and occasions of service, assessing 6278 patients in 2010/11.