​Following a recent survey conducted into the Hearing Services industry by the ACCC and some of the findings from that survey, we felt that was good time share some important information about us here at Jervis Bay Hearing Centre and some of the ways in which we ensure that our clients get the very best advice and service when attending their hearing assessment appointments.

• We are independently owned and not owned by a hearing aid manufacturer or doctor which means;
  1. We provide independent advice; we are not confined to choosing a particular hearing aid and can choose the best device for your needs.
  2. We do not pay commissions to our staff and we do not receive commissions or kickbacks from hearing aid companies.
• We encourage all of our clients to bring a family member or friend with them to their appointment.  Family and friends assist in sharing knowledge about how they experience your hearing difficulty and they can also help to recall information from your appointment.
• Questions are great, we are happy to answer your questions.  We want you to be part of the process and to journey with us.  We provide a note pad and pen so that you can jot down any information you come across in the appointment and wish to take with you. 
• We aim for no surprises.  Our clients are fully informed in writing of all costs and any out of pocket expenses that may apply.  We encourage you to ask questions if you need to clarify anything.
•  You can be confident that when you leave your appointment your audiogram results will have been fully explained to you and clients can receive their results in writing.
• In the event that hearing aids are recommended to you, your clinician will explain the different types of hearing aids, which ones will suit your individual needs, and explain why. Your clinician will also explain the different features and costs of each so that you can make an informed decision.

​We had the pleasure of playing host to some pretty amazing people this week at our 7th Birthday Party for our Ulladulla centre. And what a fabulous time we had! Thank you to everyone who braved the wet weather and joined us for some great food, fun, laughter and brilliant company.
Here is a sneak peak at some of the fun from the party, keep an eye on our gallery in the coming days for all of the snap shots from this great event.

Radio New Zealand recently had the opportunity to interview Dr Frank Lin, Professor of Otolaryngology and Geriatric Medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore.

While on a tour of NZ in March, Dr Lin told Radio New Zealand that research now shows people who have greater hearing loss are at a higher risk of being diagnosed with dementia. 

These findings correlate with research carried out by Hélène Amieve, Professor of Neuropyschology and Epidemiology of Aging at the University of Bordeaux, who met with leading researchers from Oticon at the Eriksholm Research Centre in Denmark last year, to discuss the impact of her 25-year study on hearing loss and cognitive decline.

To read more and for interviews with Professor Amieve & Dr Frank Lin please click here

According to the American Diabetes Association, it appears there is an overlap between diabetes and hearing loss. A recent study found that hearing loss is twice as common in people with diabetes as it is in those who don’t have the disease.
Hmmmm. Why could this be?  We know that high blood glucose levels cause damage to small blood vessels (for example, in the kidneys and eyes).  It is possible then that the same damage may be occurring in the ears.  Over time, when exposed to high levels of blood glucose, the very tiny vessels in the inner ear may break.  The vessels of the cochlear (the spiral tube, shaped like a snail’s shell, that forms part of the internal ear, where sound vibrations are converted into nerve impulses) thicken, making blood flow to that part of the ear very difficult.   Other research has shown that when exposed to high blood glucose over a long period of time nerve damage can occur leading to hearing loss.
Symptoms of hearing loss can be hard to notice because hearing loss happens slowly. Many times, family or friends notice it before the person experiencing it.  Some signs of hearing loss include:  frequently asking others to repeat themselves; trouble following conversations that involve more than two people; thinking that others are mumbling; problems hearing in noisy places such as busy restaurants; trouble hearing the voices of women and small children; turning up the television or radio too loud for others who are nearby.
Do you think you may be experiencing hearing loss? If so, talk to your primary care doctor, or seek help from a specialist such as an audiologist.  A full hearing exam will not only teach you about your hearing loss, but you will be told what can be done to treat it.