You can get a cochlear implant assessment in Sydney at NeuroAudiology Australia’s Alexandria, Merrylands, Winston Hills, Campbelltown and Auburn clinics, and the whole cochlear implant process with us is bulk billed. The assessment tells you, honestly, whether you are a candidate, what it would cost you and which surgeon suits you. You do not need a referral to book.
Written and reviewed by Mo Helou, Accredited Audiologist (Audiology Australia) and Principal Audiologist. Last reviewed October 2026. We update this page when rules or funding change.
Signs you should get assessed
- You wear hearing aids but still miss much of what people say, especially in groups or noise.
- You rely on lip reading or captions.
- Phone calls have become hard or impossible.
- You have been told you have severe or profound hearing loss.
- Your hearing has dropped suddenly or keeps getting worse.
As a guide, adult programs in Australia consider candidacy when you have moderate to profound sensorineural hearing loss in both ears and score under about 70% on recorded sentence tests with your best hearing aids. A common referral guide is the 60/60 rule: an average loss of 60 dB or worse in your better ear and 60% or fewer words understood without hearing aids. It is a reason to get tested, not a cut-off.
Our honest take: an implant is not always the answer
Many people we assess do not need an implant yet. Often their hearing aids were never set up properly. We test you with your aids optimised first, so the result is fair. If better-tuned hearing aids get you hearing well, we will tell you that, even though it is not the more dramatic option. We do not perform surgery and we do not sell implants, so we have no reason to push you either way.
What happens at the assessment
- Case history. Your hearing history, health and what you most want to hear better.
- Full diagnostic hearing test. Pure tone, speech and middle ear testing.
- Aided speech testing. How well you understand speech with your hearing aids properly set up.
- Results in plain English. You leave knowing if you are a candidate, what an implant could do and what it would cost you.
- Surgeon and next steps. If you are a candidate, we help you choose the right ENT surgeon and send a full report.
What it costs, honestly
- Audiology with us: the whole cochlear implant process with NeuroAudiology Australia is bulk billed.
- Surgery and device with private hospital cover: usually largely covered. Check that your policy includes cochlear implants, and ask your surgeon about any gap.
- Public hospital program: the implant can be funded at no cost, but waiting lists apply.
- DVA Gold or White Card: you may be entitled to funding.
- Upgrades: the external processor is usually replaced about every five years. Private health often contributes.
What to realistically expect
An implant does not restore normal hearing on day one. Sound can seem robotic or tinny at switch-on, and most people improve steadily over three to twelve months with practice and follow-up programming. Most adults who are good candidates understand speech much better than they did with hearing aids, and many can use the phone again. People who have been deaf since birth and never had access to sound may get less benefit, and we will tell you if that applies to you.
Our clinics
- Alexandria: 104/35 Doody St, Alexandria NSW 2015
- Merrylands: 333 Merrylands Rd, Merrylands NSW 2160
- Winston Hills: 176 Windsor Road, Winston Hills NSW 2153
- Campbelltown: Suite 14/42 Parkside Cres, Campbelltown NSW 2560
- Auburn: 85 St Hilliers Road, Auburn NSW 2144
Book a cochlear implant assessment or call (02) 8530 7200.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I get a cochlear implant assessment in Sydney?
NeuroAudiology Australia runs cochlear implant candidacy assessments at five Sydney clinics: Alexandria, Merrylands, Winston Hills, Campbelltown and Auburn, and the whole cochlear implant process with us is bulk billed. Public hospital implant programs and other private implant clinics also assess candidacy.
Who is eligible for a cochlear implant in Australia?
Adults are usually considered when they have moderate to profound sensorineural hearing loss in both ears and still score under about 70% on recorded sentence tests with well-fitted hearing aids. Some people with good hearing in one ear can be candidates for the other ear. A candidacy assessment measures this properly.
What is the 60/60 rule for cochlear implants?
It is a referral guide, not a strict rule. If your better ear has an average hearing loss of 60 dB or worse and you understand 60% or fewer single words without hearing aids, you should be referred for a cochlear implant assessment. Many people outside the 60/60 guide are still candidates.
Who is not a good candidate for a cochlear implant?
People who still hear speech well with properly fitted hearing aids, people whose hearing nerve or cochlea cannot support an implant, people who are not medically fit for a general anaesthetic, and adults deaf from birth who never had access to sound may get limited benefit. Expectations matter too: an implant takes months of practice to reach its best.
How much does a cochlear implant cost in Australia?
Most people pay far less than they expect. With appropriate private hospital cover, the implant and surgery are usually largely covered. Public hospital programs can fund the implant at no cost, though waiting lists apply. DVA Gold and White Card holders may be entitled to funding. At NeuroAudiology Australia the whole cochlear implant process with us is bulk billed.
Does Medicare cover cochlear implants?
Medicare contributes to the surgeon and anaesthetist fees and covers treatment as a public patient in a public hospital. The implant device itself is funded through private hospital cover, a public hospital program or DVA, not Medicare alone.
How long does a cochlear implant last?
The internal implant is designed to last a lifetime and rarely needs replacing. The external sound processor is usually upgraded every five years or so, and private health insurance often contributes to upgrades.
Am I too old for a cochlear implant?
There is no upper age limit. Many people in their 70s, 80s and 90s have implants and do very well. What matters is your hearing, your speech understanding with hearing aids and your general health.
Do I need a referral?
Not to book a candidacy assessment with us. If you are a candidate, you will need an ENT surgeon for surgery, and we help you choose the right one.
Sources: Metro North Health, adult cochlear implant candidacy criteria; Cochlear, funding options in Australia; Cochlear Professional, the 60/60 guideline.
