News and Stories

It’s an outdated perception amongst many that hearing loss is an inevitable and untreatable part of the ageing process. Yet, the overwhelming majority of us think hearing is important to our overall quality of life (The State of Hearing Report, 2018). Hearing aids are the most common technology option for many types of hearing losses, and understanding how they work can go a long way in making an informed decision about the benefits and whether they’re right for you. Hearing aids are built to amplify your existing hearing, and when worn consistently, can help to actively stop the ...

For Dr John Montgomery, past experience with hearing aids had left him feeling frustrated and dissatisfied. “I had seen another provider five years ago who had recommended hearing aids that sat completely in the ear canal, however they always felt clunky and uncomfortable – consequently, I only used them in work meetings and would often come away with a headache,” said John. With an active professional life in corporate and university governance, John said he felt it was critical to have clear hearing. Feeling disappointed with the hearing technology he had been using, John’s ...

For anyone visiting our Brisbane Centre, Tania Kennedy is one of the first people you'll likely see. Her welcoming nature is instantly reassuring for anyone - whether you're a nervous parent at the start of your journey or someone who is coming in for weekly appointments. The items organised across Tania’s desk highlight the diverse range of tasks she and the Business Support team do each day to ensure Hear and Say runs smoothly. 1.Phone Some days it’s not too much of a stretch to liken the front desk at our Brisbane Centre to the NASA control room! From answering calls with ...

The summer ahead looks bright for Sunshine Coast one-year-old, Hayden who loves nothing more than playing with the hose outside in the garden and getting soaked. Hayden’s ability to hear the sounds of this classic backyard pastime – the rush of the sprinklers, his family’s delighted laughter – is something Hayden’s parents don’t take for granted, after he was diagnosed with hearing loss at birth. “We love watching Hayden start to understand what we say and hearing him babble away while he plays,” said mum, Kyla. Having learnt of Hear and Say during the process of ...

A chat with friends and the scent of freshly baked biscuits would likely score highly on many people’s list of favourite things, and for Sunshine Coast teen, Isaac, his new business venture has him surrounded by both. After graduating high school at the end of 2019, the budding entrepreneur recently started a business called Isaac’s Sweet Treats, which sees him pumping out upwards of 800 biscuits in a day – a number which would make others crumble but leaves Isaac unphased.“Isaac makes up the dough and cookies with his support worker, Greg, and loves making deliveries to his ...

“We were in shock and denial for a while following the diagnosis, but we were ready to do whatever it took to ensure Iyla could live life like any other child.” – Brooke, mum to four-year-old Iyla. Brooke and her partner, Bart first discovered their daughter had a hearing loss when she failed her newborn hearing screening in hospital. From their home in Cooktown, the first two years of Iyla’s life saw the family travelling to Cairns, Townsville and Brisbane for numerous hearing tests, ear mould fittings for hearing aids, and then cochlear implant surgery. “When Iyla had her ...

Life gets more complex as children grow up, and starting school is a huge milestone for many families. The beginning of a child’s schooling journey is a time filled with new skills to be learnt, from recognising their name, to tying their laces, to opening yoghurt containers by themselves. Listening and spoken language sessions using the Auditory-Verbal Therapy philosophy, such as those found at Hear and Say, regard the parents as the natural language teachers of their children. Listening and Spoken Language Specialists, who are typically speech pathologists by background, coach and ...

From parading their most colourful outfits for Loud Shirt Day, to volunteering at events, to even (safely) swinging their CEO off the Goodwill Bridge, financial planning firm Henderson Matusch has done it all when it comes to fundraising for Hear and Say. Having supported Hear and Say since 2018, Henderson Matusch General Manager, Iain Rogers said the partnership was a strong reflection of the firm’s commitment to giving back to its community in meaningful ways. “We have the privilege of being able to change our clients’ lives by assisting them to create a better financial future. ...

Almost five years have now passed, but Glenys Rendell clearly remembers her grandson’s wide-eyed face the day his cochlear implants were switched onto sound at Hear and Say. “It was very special to be there for my grandson, Eddie’s cochlear implant switch on, and I have since watched him grow into the incredible child he is,” said Glenys. “He has been given the opportunity to truly flourish, and I can’t imagine what he would have missed out on had he not been able to hear and speak.” Having visited Hear and Say many times in her proud role of grandmother, when Glenys’ ...

Shreyas may have only just celebrated his first birthday, but he has already earned himself the title of “Adventurer”. The bright-eyed little boy recently learnt to crawl, and his family has delighted in watching Shreyas using his newfound freedom to explore his surrounds – including picking up whatever toys he can lay his hands on. Shreyas and his twin sister, Shananya were the second and third children for parents, Kanika and Kalesh. Through the universal newborn hearing screening at hospital, it was discovered that Shreyas had a mild hearing loss in both ears; he would soon go ...