Where Capella residents have hearing aids fitted
If you live in Capella, hearing aids are fitted through the CQ Audiology visiting clinic in Emerald, at Lot 1 Pilot Farm Road, Emerald QLD 4720. That is roughly 50 km south of town on the Gregory Highway. CQ Audiology does not have a clinic in Capella, so every fitting, adjustment and check happens in Emerald or at the main rooms in Rockhampton, at T33 and 34A, City Centre Plaza, 24 Fitzroy Street, Rockhampton QLD 4700.
If you would like to know who you will be seeing and what a first appointment covers, read about the audiologist Capella residents can book through. For fitting details at the Emerald end, see hearing aids Emerald.
What to raise at your fitting
Hearing aids are set up around the places you struggle most, so it pays to arrive with specifics. Three situations suit a Capella routine.
- Long days beside machinery. Header, auger and truck noise is steady background sound, and following a conversation over an engine is a different job from talking at the kitchen table. Ask how the aids handle constant noise and whether they can be set up with separate programs.
- Crowded community days. The Capella Show means crowds, loudspeakers and hard surfaces. If you want to follow a chat in a canteen queue, say so, and the audiologist can focus on speech in noise during fine tuning.
- Phone calls from the ute or the yard. If most of your calls happen outdoors or beside a running engine, ask about streaming from a phone, wind noise, and which rechargeable or replaceable-battery option copes better with dust and heat.
Some Capella workers wear custom earplugs on the job and hearing aids off it. Ask how the two fit together.
Fitting trips and follow-ups from Capella
Think of it as a short sequence rather than a single visit. Dates depend on the next available clinic, so there is no fixed timetable.
1. Trip 1: assessment and options. A hearing assessment in Emerald, a conversation about your work and weekends, and a look at device styles, battery types and pricing information before anything is ordered.
2. Trip 2: the fitting. The aids are programmed to your results and checked for comfort, and you practise inserting, removing, cleaning and charging them. Bring your list of tricky situations.
3. A later review. An appointment to adjust the programming after you have worn the aids in everyday life. Ask the team about booking it before you leave Emerald.
Between visits, jot down what is not working, such as "too sharp on the header". If a small problem comes up, call the Rockhampton team on (07) 4848 6528 before you drive and they will advise whether a visit is needed.
Emerald or Rockhampton from Capella
- Emerald visiting clinic: the closer option, about 50 km south. Fittings, adjustments and reviews are booked here on visiting-clinic days.
- Rockhampton rooms: a much longer trip, with set hours of Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm and Saturday 9am to 12pm. Earwax removal by microsuction is offered at the rooms.
Paying for hearing aids
Eligible pensioner concession card and DVA card holders may access services under the Australian Government Hearing Services Program; eligibility criteria apply. For people who qualify, program devices are paid for by the Australian Government. Conditions apply under the Australian Government Hearing Services Program. Outside the program, hearing aids are bought privately. Private health fund benefits vary by fund and level of cover, so check with your fund. Hearing aids are medical devices regulated by the TGA, so always follow the directions for use and ask your audiologist if you are unsure. The Hearing Services Program page explains the pathway, and the hearing aid guide covers the types.
Questions Capella people ask
Do I need to come in for every follow-up?
Programming changes and physical checks need a clinic visit. Call (07) 4848 6528 first and the team will advise.
Should I choose Emerald or Rockhampton?
Emerald is the shorter run. Rockhampton can suit you if you are already heading to the coast, or if a Saturday morning fits better.
What if my hearing changes suddenly?
See your GP or an emergency department the same day. Do not wait for a clinic date.
Can Springsure or Clermont friends book around the same time?
Ask the team what can be arranged on (07) 4848 6528. See hearing aids Springsure and hearing aids Clermont for their versions of the plan.
Contact and visiting-clinic details
Visiting-clinic days vary by location. Please call (07) 4848 6528 to confirm the next available clinic in Emerald before travelling.
- Emerald (visiting): Lot 1 Pilot Farm Road, Emerald QLD 4720
- Rockhampton: T33 and 34A, City Centre Plaza, 24 Fitzroy Street, Rockhampton QLD 4700
- Phone: (07) 4848 6528
- Email: reception@cqaudiology.com.au
Tell the team you are coming from Capella, or use the online booking form.
This page is general information, not personal medical advice.