Springsure sits beneath the cliffs of Mount Zamia, where the Gregory and Dawson Highways meet, and for many locals the nearest audiologist Springsure people can book with is a drive north. CQ Audiology does not operate a clinic in Springsure. Our closest location is the visiting clinic in Emerald, at Lot 1 Pilot Farm Road, Emerald QLD 4720, roughly 70 km up the Gregory Highway. Our main rooms are in Rockhampton, at T33 and 34A, City Centre Plaza, 24 Fitzroy Street, Rockhampton QLD 4700. Below is a straightforward guide to reaching us from Springsure and what to expect once you arrive.
Where Springsure residents can see us
There are two places to choose from, and each has its own strengths:
- Emerald visiting clinic, Lot 1 Pilot Farm Road. The shorter trip for most of the district. Clinic days are held periodically rather than every week.
- Rockhampton rooms, City Centre Plaza, 24 Fitzroy Street. Open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm and Saturday from 9am to 12pm. Earwax removal by microsuction is offered here.
Visiting-clinic days vary by location. Please call (07) 4848 6528 to confirm the next available clinic in Emerald before travelling.
From the foot of Virgin Rock to the Emerald clinic
The run north to Emerald follows the Gregory Highway for roughly 70 km. Properties out towards Orion, Arcturus and Cona Creek add their own kilometres before the highway even starts, and for anyone living towards Rolleston on the Dawson Highway the trip is longer again. The drive is a scenic one, with the volcanic peaks of Minerva Hills National Park rising just north-west of town as you set off. Because the trip still takes a slice out of the day, it is worth booking with a little planning:
- Ask for the next Emerald date when you call, and pencil in a second date for any follow-up.
- Combine the appointment with other jobs in Emerald, such as supplies or a GP visit.
- If you already travel to Rockhampton for other reasons, the weekday and Saturday hours there may fit more easily.
Cattle, crops and the sounds of a working property
Springsure's prosperity has long rested on beef cattle and grain. That means tractors and headers at planting and harvest, generators and pumps at the bore, chainsaws on fallen timber, and the steady clang of steel yards on muster days. Each of these adds to the noise a person is around over the years, and custom hearing protection made to fit your ears is worth asking about.
Pre-employment hearing assessments and industrial hearing assessments are also among the services CQ Audiology provides, which can be useful for anyone starting mine or contract work. Ask at booking which of these can be done on an Emerald clinic day.
Questions Springsure people ask before booking
What happens at a hearing assessment?
A diagnostic hearing assessment begins with questions about your hearing history, your work and the listening situations that bother you. The audiologist looks into each ear, then carries out tone testing through headphones, speech testing and middle ear measurements. You get an explanation of the results before you leave, including what they mean for everyday conversations at home, at the pub or at the Bauhinia Park races.
Can a family member come along?
Yes, and it is encouraged. A partner or adult child often remembers different details from the explanation and can describe situations you may not notice yourself.
What about ringing in the ears?
CQ Audiology offers tinnitus assessment as part of its services. Mention it when you book so enough time is set aside.
Are children seen?
Children's hearing tests are part of what CQ Audiology offers. When you call, the reception team can explain which location and date will work for a younger patient, and whether it makes sense to line the appointment up with a school holiday trip.
Is there help with the cost?
Eligible pensioner concession card and DVA card holders may access services under the Australian Government Hearing Services Program; eligibility criteria apply. Conditions apply under the Australian Government Hearing Services Program. Workplace schemes and private health extras can also play a part for some people, so ask the team what might apply to you.
What if something seems medical?
If your results or your history point towards a medical issue, your GP or an ENT specialist will advise. Any sudden change in hearing is different: see your GP or an emergency department the same day.
Audiologist Springsure bookings: making the trip count
A few small preparations help an Emerald appointment go smoothly for anyone making the drive from Springsure:
1. Write down the three listening situations you find hardest, whether that is the phone, the television or a busy room at the showground.
2. Note any past ear infections, ear surgery or head injuries, and bring a list of your current medications.
3. If you already own hearing aids, bring them along with the charger or spare batteries.
4. Bring your concession or DVA card if you hold one.
If hearing aids turn out to be part of the plan, fitting and follow-up appointments can be arranged, and you can read about the options on the hearing aids in Emerald page. To see how the Emerald visiting clinic works in more detail, visit the audiologist in Emerald page, or call (07) 4848 6528 to book.