Every now and then a story comes along that puts words to something you’ve felt for a long time. For us, that was a recent investigation in The Age.
It revealed that optometrists at some of Australia’s biggest corporate eyewear chains have been under real pressure to hit sales targets, rushing eye exams, chasing same-day glasses sales, and in some cases holding back clinical appointments during peak selling periods to keep the tills ringing. One optometrist described only catching a patient’s brain aneurysm because they pushed back against the pressure to keep things quick and commercial. Another left the profession altogether when the stress of selling over caring became too much.
It’s a confronting read. And while the headline is about optometry, anyone who works in healthcare knows the same commercial pressures turn up right across the industry, audiology included. When a clinic answers to shareholders and head-office KPIs, the person in the chair can slip down the list of priorities. Most of those clinicians care deeply. The trouble is they’re being measured on conversions and average spend instead of on patient outcomes.
We think that’s the wrong way round. And it’s exactly why Hear More Audiology is built differently.
What independence actually means for you
We’re an independently owned, local audiology clinic, and that shapes everything about how we look after you. Because we’re independent, we don’t have sales quotas, and we’re not part of a corporate chain nudging us toward a particular product or a monthly number. There’s no “black-out period” where clinical care takes a back seat to hitting a target. When one of our audiologists sits down with you, the only question on the table is the right one: what’s genuinely best for your hearing and your quality of life?
Sometimes that means a premium hearing aid. Sometimes it means a simple adjustment, a bit of maintenance, or telling you that you don’t need anything new right now. We’d rather give you the straight answer than the profitable one. We’re here for the long haul, it’s not transactional for us.
Care that takes the time it takes
Good hearing care can’t be rushed. It’s about understanding your life, the conversations you’re missing, the family dinners that have gone a bit quiet, the movie nights that aren’t quite the same anymore, and then tailoring your care around getting those moments back.
This relationship takes time, it prioritises patience and genuine care. It’s the first thing to suffer when a clinic is pushing to move people through the door, so we protect it fiercely. With over 60 years of combined experience across our team of audiologists, we’ve seen what genuinely individualised care can do, and we’re not willing to trade it for a faster sale.
Things to ask any healthcare clinic
If the investigation left you wondering how to tell the difference, here are a few questions worth asking any hearing clinic, ours included:
- Are you independent, or part of a retail chain or manufacturer?
- Will you tell me if I don’t need a new device right now?
- How much time do I actually get with the audiologist?
- Do you offer ongoing care and adjustments, or is it a one-and-done sale?
- Are your recommendations based on my hearing, or on a product range you’re expected to push?
You deserve answers you can trust, and a clinic that’s genuinely on your side.
Come and feel the difference
We started Hear More Audiology because we believe hearing care should feel warm and personal, like we’re genuinely in your corner. That’s the freedom an independently owned audiology clinic gives us. If that’s the kind of care you’ve been hoping for, we’d be so glad to welcome you in.
