Listening Assessment & Support Clinic

At the Melbourne Hearing Care Clinic, we understand that listening challenges can impact communication, learning, attention, and overall quality of life — even when hearing is normal. Our Listening Assessment and Support Clinic offers comprehensive support for individuals who struggle to process auditory information effectively.

The clinic encompasses two specialised streams:

• Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)
• Autism and Neurodiversity

Clients are placed into the appropriate stream based on their history and clinical needs. Our experienced audiologists conduct thorough, individualised assessments and offer evidence-based support strategies to help children, teenagers, and adults strengthen their listening skills and achieve better outcomes at home, school, and in the community.

• Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)
• Autism and Neurodiversity

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) — also known as Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) — affects how the brain processes the sounds we hear. It can occur in both children and adults, and is not caused by a hearing loss, but rather a difficulty interpreting auditory information.

Common signs of APD:

• Difficulty following speech in noisy environments
• Trouble following instructions
• Literacy or academic challenges
• Speech or language delays
• Poor attention or concentration
• Weak memory skills

Who we see:

• Children aged 6 years and older
• Teens and adults
• No medical referral required

What to expect:

At your appointment, our audiologists will assess a range of listening and processing skills to identify any areas of difficulty. A typical APD assessment may include:

• Hearing test and middle ear function test
• Understanding speech in background noise
• Temporal processing (detecting timing changes in sound)
• Auditory discrimination (telling sounds apart)
• Dichotic listening (integrating information from both ears)
• Auditory memory and attention
• Non-verbal intelligence screening

Management options may include:

• Personal remote microphone systems (e.g. for use in classrooms)
• Auditory training programs using specialised software
• Speech and language therapy referrals
• Communication strategies for home and school

APD is a complex condition, affecting an estimated 5% of school-aged children. Early identification and targeted support can make a significant difference in listening and learning outcomes.

To book an appointment in the Listening Assessment and Support Clinic, please contact our friendly reception team on (03) 9035 5333.

Please note that these services will incur additional fees.

Autism and Neurodiversity

Many autistic individuals experience auditory processing differences, even when their hearing is normal. These may include challenges understanding speech in noisy settings, sound sensitivity, or trouble filtering out background noise.

Our Autism and Neurodiversity Stream is designed to assess and support listening skills in autistic and neurodiverse children, teenagers and adults. While audiologists often assess hearing to rule out hearing loss during autism assessments, research shows that a more in-depth look at listening abilities is also important.

Who we see:

• Children aged 4 years and older
• Teens and adults
• All verbal and intellectual abilities welcome
• No medical referral required

What to expect:

• Hearing test and middle ear function test
• Understanding speech in quiet and background noise
• Listening behaviours and challenges
• Auditory tolerance (sound sensitivity)
• Functional listening and communication assessment and support

Management options may include:

• Remote microphone technology trials
• Low-gain hearing aid trials
• Strategies for managing noise and improving focus
• Individualised recommendations for school and home

Studies show that remote microphone systems can help autistic and neurodiverse individuals by improving speech understanding, reducing listening effort and stress, and supporting better engagement in learning environments.

To book an appointment in the Listening Assessment and Support Clinic, please contact our friendly reception team on (03) 9035 5333.

These services will incur additional fees.