Diagnostic Hearing Assessment
A full air and bone conduction hearing test, speech-in-noise testing and an ear examination, all in a calibrated room.
WorkSafe & Defence Hearing Claims
Workplace & Defence Hearing Assessments
Has noise at work or during military service affected your hearing? We provide thorough hearing assessments and clear, professional reports for Victorian workers and Australian Defence Force veterans, with the time and care to explain every result.
- Independent Practice: Objective, caring advice focused only on your hearing and wellbeing
- WorkSafe & DVA Reporting: Standardised reports prepared to support your claim
- Accredited Audiologist: Every assessment carried out personally by Founder & Principal Audiologist George Sebastian (BASLP, M.Sc. Aud, AAuDA)
WorkSafe & Defence Documentation
85%
of occupational disease claims in Victoria are for noise-induced hearing loss.
- 85% of Victorian occupational disease claims are noise-induced hearing loss
- 2,323+ noise-related injury claims recorded in Victoria annually
- 85 dB(A) maximum safe workplace exposure standard over an 8-hour shift
- 140 dB(C) peak acoustic impulse sound level limit that must never be exceeded
Source: WorkSafe Victoria & Safe Work Australia.
How Noise Affects Hearing
How Loud Noise Affects Your Hearing Over Time
Years of exposure to loud workplaces or military environments can cause permanent noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Because it usually affects high-pitched sounds first and develops slowly, many workers and veterans adapt without realising how much their hearing has changed, until conversations become harder to follow.
Loud noise damages the tiny hair cells inside the inner ear (the cochlea), and once damaged, these cells do not grow back. How much hearing is affected depends on how loud the noise was, how long and how often you were exposed, and the type of noise.
Could Your Hearing Loss Be Work or Service-Related?
Common signs and symptoms include:
- Finding it hard to follow conversation in noisy places, cafés or at family gatherings
- Often asking people to repeat themselves, or feeling that people mumble
- Ongoing ringing, buzzing, clicking or hissing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Needing the TV or car radio louder than others find comfortable
- Difficulty hearing higher-pitched voices, alarms, sirens or birdsong
- Hearing changes noticed years after leaving a noisy job or military service
Testing to AS ISO 8253 Standards in a Calibrated Room
We measure your air and bone conduction hearing from 250 Hz to 8000 Hz, how well you understand speech in quiet and in noise, and how your middle ear is working, for an accurate and reliable result.
Industries at Risk
Occupations Commonly Exposed to Hazardous Noise
Across Victoria and in the Defence Force, many people work around noise levels above what is considered safe. These are some of the most common.
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Manufacturing
Stamping presses, CNC fabrication, metal tooling, bottling lines and continuous machinery noise.
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Construction & Trades
Jackhammers, concrete saws, nail guns, excavators, grinders and framing work.
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Defence & Military
Small arms fire, artillery, jet engines, armoured vehicles and firing ranges.
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Transport & Warehousing
Heavy diesel transport, container cranes, forklifts, conveyor systems and distribution centres.
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Mining & Quarrying
Blasting, drill rigs, rock crushers, screening plants and haul trucks.
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Aviation & Aerospace
Commercial and military aircraft engines, ground crew and baggage handling, and engine testing.
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Mechanical & Workshops
Rattle guns, angle grinders, panel beating, hydraulic presses and engine testing.
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Agriculture & Forestry
Chainsaws, tractors without cabs, grain augers, crop-spraying aircraft and timber mill saws.
Your Work History
Hearing Protection Helps, but Past Exposure Still Counts
Even if you wore earmuffs or earplugs, years of noise exposure, or times when protection was removed or did not seal well, can still cause permanent hearing loss. Your full work and service history is an important part of your hearing report.
Helpful to bring: A list of past employers, approximate dates, your roles, the machinery or weapons you worked with, and the hearing protection you were given. Don't worry if you can't remember everything. We will go through it with you.
- Loudness (Decibels) How loud your tools, engines and equipment were.
- Duration & Frequency Hours per day and years spent in noisy work.
- Type of Noise Constant noise, or sudden loud bangs and blasts.
- Hearing Protection What protection you wore, and whether you wore it all the time.
How We Help
Independent Assessment & Clear Reporting
Every assessment is carried out personally by Principal Audiologist George Sebastian (BASLP, M.Sc. Aud), accredited by Audiology Australia.
George Sebastian (BASLP, M.Sc. Aud, AAuDA)
Providing independent hearing assessments, Real Ear Measurement and professional reports for WorkSafe and DVA claims.
Tinnitus Assessment & Support
We measure the pitch and loudness of your tinnitus, understand how it affects your daily life, and guide you through practical ways to manage it.
Clear, Professional Reports
Objective, standardised reports prepared for WorkSafe Victoria, Comcare and DVA claims.
Carefully Verified Fitting
Independent recommendations across all major brands, with every fitting checked using Real Ear Measurement (REM).
Ongoing Care & Support
Follow-up appointments, fine-tuning, annual hearing checks and help with ongoing supplies, for as long as you need us.
Victoria: Key Facts
How WorkSafe Victoria Treats Hearing Loss
A general overview of how the Victorian workers' compensation scheme treats hearing loss. WorkSafe Victoria assesses and decides every claim individually.
No minimum
Medical & Like Expenses
In Victoria, there is no minimum percentage of hearing loss required to claim the cost of necessary hearing aids and audiology care.
10%
Lump Sum Impairment Benefit
A lump sum impairment benefit requires a binaural hearing loss of at least 10%. Once this has been met, it does not need to be met again for later claims if your hearing worsens.
Every 5 years
Hearing Aid Fitting Package
WorkSafe can fund a complete hearing aid package once every five years, including the hearing aids, fitting checks, batteries and ongoing care.
Prior approval
Approval Before Provision
Hearing aids and related care generally need approval from WorkSafe or its agent before they are ordered or fitted. We can help you with this step.
Australian Defence Force Veterans: If you have served in the ADF or hold a DVA Gold or White Card, you may be eligible for subsidised hearing care under the Australian Government Hearing Services Program. Visit our Pensioners & HSP page for details.
Step by Step
From Assessment to Ongoing Care
A clear path from your first appointment through to long-term care, with support at every step.
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Book Your Assessment
Call us or request an appointment online. Just let us know that your concerns relate to noise at work or in the military.
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Hearing Assessment
We carry out a full hearing test in our calibrated room and talk through your noise exposure history with you.
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Your Report
George explains your results in plain language and prepares a formal report for your GP or claim adviser.
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Lodging Your Claim
You or your legal representative lodge your claim with WorkSafe Victoria, Comcare or DVA, together with your hearing report.
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Fitting & Ongoing Care
Once approved, we fit your hearing aids, check them with Real Ear Measurement, and continue to support you long after.
About Claims & What We Provide
Prime Audiology provides hearing assessments, objective testing and clinical reports. We do not provide legal advice and cannot guarantee the outcome of a claim. Decisions are made by WorkSafe Victoria, DVA or the relevant insurer, based on:
- Your documented work and defence noise history
- The type, pattern and degree of your hearing loss
- Your calculated binaural hearing impairment percentage
- The time limits and legal criteria that apply to your employment or service
For legal advice about your claim, please contact WorkSafe Victoria, the Department of Veterans' Affairs, or an accredited compensation solicitor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your Questions About Noise & Hearing Claims
I wore hearing protection at work or in the defence force. Can noise still have caused damage?
Yes, it is possible. Earmuffs and earplugs greatly reduce noise, but they cannot remove all risk, especially with very loud noise such as artillery, blasts or heavy machinery, or if protection was sometimes removed or did not fit well. A hearing assessment will show where your hearing is today.
Do I still need to be actively working in a noisy industry to make a claim?
No. Noise-induced hearing loss develops slowly and is often only noticed years after leaving a job or after retiring, when age-related changes add to earlier noise damage. Your full work and military history is still relevant.
Is there a minimum hearing loss requirement under WorkSafe Victoria?
For medical and like expenses, such as hearing assessments, hearing aids, batteries and ongoing care, Victoria has no minimum percentage of hearing loss. A separate lump sum impairment benefit requires a binaural hearing loss of at least 10%.
What if I worked in interstate defence postings or multiple employers?
This is very common. Previous hearing tests and service records help insurers understand where your exposure occurred, so please bring whatever records you have to your appointment.
Does Prime Audiology manage the legal claim for me?
We provide the hearing assessments, audiograms and formal reports that insurers and solicitors need. The claim itself is lodged by you, your employer or your legal representative.
What should I bring to my appointment?
Please bring photo ID, a list of your noisy jobs or defence service with approximate dates, any previous hearing tests, your current hearing aids if you have them, and any WorkSafe or DVA claim numbers if a claim is already open.
Take the First Step
Book Your Hearing Assessment
Prefer to Talk to Someone?
Call the clinic and let us know your hearing concerns relate to work or defence noise.
0466 233 164 Call NowBook Online
Request an appointment online and we will contact you within one business day.
Request Appointment Online- Langwarrin Shop 18/385 Cranbourne–Frankston Rd, Langwarrin Plaza VIC 3910
- Somerville 25 Eramosa Rd E, Somerville VIC 3912
- McCrae 691/695 Point Nepean Rd, McCrae VIC 3938
The information on this page is general and is not legal advice. Results vary from person to person. Claim eligibility is decided by WorkSafe Victoria, DVA or the relevant workers' compensation authority.
