A new network of clinics is officially being launched today, offering hearing checks and affordable hearing aids, and promising to increase choice and convenience for customers.

Minister for Aged Care, Ken Wyatt AM, said SpecSavers Audiology would eventually expand its services to 200 clinics across the country, helping to meet the growing demand for hearing services and aids now and into the future.

“One in six Australians currently experience some sort of hearing loss, and this figure is expected to increase to one in four by 2050,” Minister Wyatt said.

“Complete or partial deafness can rob us of independence, self-esteem, learning capacity and the ability to socialise and communicate with others, but having a simple hearing test can prevent many of these problems.

“A recent report estimates the economic and social cost of hearing loss to our nation runs into billions of dollars each year.”

SpecSavers Audiology has been accredited through the Australian Government’s Hearing Services Program, which supports eligible people with a range of fully or partially subsidised services.

“In the past year, we have invested more than half a billion dollars in the program and have been able to assist over 700,000 Australians to hear better, with more than 1.3 million services delivered in total,” Minister Wyatt said.

“These include hearing assessments, advice and support, and assistance with the fitting of appropriate hearing aids. Hopefully, more people will now have hearing tests, because research shows that currently, only one-third of those with hearing loss do something about it.”

For further information, visit your GP or view the Hearing Services Program website.