A pressing need for systemic reforms and increased regulation has been revealed in a groundbreaking national survey conducted by Deafness Forum Australia that sheds light on the complex landscape of hearing services in the country.
The survey gathered insights from consumers and providers of hearing services between November and January 2025.
The findings from the survey paint a picture of an industry grappling with commercialism, confusion, and a lack of standardised practices.
Consumer Perspectives
Deafness Forum Australia chair, Rae Walker said, “The survey uncovered a significant disconnect between consumer expectations and their experiences with hearing services.
“Australians seeking help for hearing issues reported feeling overwhelmed by sales-driven practices, which could potentially prioritise device sales over individualised care,” she said.
Survey respondents wanted expert guidance on managing their hearing loss but instead encountered aggressive sales tactics promoting costly hearing aids.
Consumers expressed a strong desire for:
- Ethical, comprehensive services
- Simplified access to care
- Increased provider awareness of cultural and community-specific needs
Most tellingly, consumers have a widespread perception that those providing hearing services are primarily salespeople. This view starkly contrasts with how these professionals see themselves.
Provider Insights
Provider Insights
On the other hand, providers of hearing services voiced their own frustrations with the current system. They reported feeling caught between their professional ethics and commercial pressures.
“We entered this field to help people, not to meet sales targets,” one audiologist commented anonymously.
Providers overwhelmingly called for:
- Reduced commercialism in the industry
- Increased regulation to standardise practices
- Greater transparency in professional qualifications and roles
The Regulation Debate
A key survey finding was the strong support for regulating audiologists to align with other healthcare professionals. Both consumers and providers see formal regulation as crucial for:
- Defining explicit scopes of practice
- Ensuring accurate use of professional titles
- Enhancing professional recognition and accountability
However, the survey also revealed that regulation alone may not address all the issues plaguing the industry, particularly those related to commercialism.
The Current Landscape
To understand the significance of these findings, it’s important to consider the current state of hearing services in Australia. As of January 2025, the industry operates under a patchwork of partial regulations and self-governing bodies. Hearing services are overseen by:
- Government funding bodies like the Hearing Services Program, NDIS, and Medicare
- Self-regulating professional associations
- Healthcare commissioners in each state or territory
There is no national board under the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency for hearing service providers. This fragmented system has confused consumers about the qualifications and roles of different providers. Many struggle to differentiate between audiologists, who hold master’s degrees, and audiometrists, who typically have diplomas or certificates.
Adding to the complexity, many hearing-related businesses are owned by companies associated with hearing device manufacturers, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.
The Push for Change
The Deafness Forum Australia survey comes at a critical time, as several investigations and reviews related to hearing services are currently underway. These include:
- A review of the Hearing Services Program by the Department of Health and Aged Care
- An independent review of the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme
- The Strengthening Medicare review and subsequent Scope of Practice Review
- An Audiometry Qualification Review by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
- Ongoing NDIS reforms
- A Regulatory Impact Statement on the Regulation of Audiology, led by Queensland Health
These concurrent investigations highlight the growing recognition of the need for change in the hearing services sector. However, they also underscore the issue’s complexity, with multiple stakeholders and overlapping jurisdictions involved.
The Road Ahead
Based on the survey findings, Deafness Forum Australia has outlined several recommendations for systemic reforms:
- Mandatory Regulation: Implement comprehensive regulation for both audiologists and audiometrists under a national framework.
- Patient-Centred Care: Shift the focus of hearing services from device sales to holistic, individualised care.
- Reduced Commercial Pressure: Develop strategies to mitigate the influence of commercial interests on clinical decision-making.
- Public Education: Launch initiatives to educate the public on the roles of different hearing professionals and the range of services available.
- Professional Development: Support career stability and growth opportunities for hearing professionals to maintain the sector’s integrity.
- Simplified Access: Streamline the process for consumers to access hearing services and navigate the system.
- Cultural Competence: Enhance provider training to better meet the needs of diverse communities, including Indigenous Australians and the Deaf community.
Challenges and Opportunities
Implementing these reforms will not be without challenges. The hearing services industry in Australia is a complex ecosystem involving multiple stakeholders, each with their own interests and perspectives. One significant hurdle is the potential resistance from those benefiting from the current system.
As one survey respondent noted, “There’s a lot of money in hearing aids, and some players in the industry might not want to see that change.”
At the Threshold of Meaningful Change
The Deafness Forum Australia national survey has highlighted the urgent need for reform in the country’s hearing services. As the population ages and the prevalence of hearing issues increases, addressing these systemic problems becomes more critical.
The path forward will require collaboration between government bodies, industry stakeholders, and consumer advocates.
“With a clear action plan provided by this comprehensive survey, there’s hope that Australians with hearing challenges will soon have access to the consistently ethical, high-quality care they deserve,” said Deafness Forum’s Rae Walker.
As we await the outcomes of ongoing investigations and reviews, one thing is clear: the time for change in Australia’s hearing services has arrived. The voices of consumers and ethical providers have been heard – it’s time for action to ensure that every Australian can access the hearing care they need, free from confusion, pressure, or compromise.