A Wagga mother, whose young son needs a hearing test, has been told the public service is not available in Wagga.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Adding salt to the wound, she was told she could get the free test if she travelled to Junee.
Genevieve O’Hare was born in Harden, moving to Sydney for 20 years before moving to Wagga three years ago.
Her sister-in-law, who works in child care, noticed Ted’s speech was not very clear and suggested to Ms O’Hare that the almost three-year-old get a hearing test.
She called the Wagga community health centre but was told the only way to get a hearing test in Wagga was to go through the private sector.
“They weren’t apologetic about it at all,” Ms O’Hare said.
“I asked if I could take Ted to the hospital to get tested and they told me no.”
She was told a private company – Australian Hearing – would do the test but it would cost $105.
The money would be reimbursed if Ted’s hearing was impaired.
“We came down here thinking, through Evocities, that we’d get the country lifestyle with all the services,” Ms O’Hare said. “I go back to Sydney regularly – I might have to book in Ted up there for a fortnight’s time.”
Ms O’Hare said her family could afford the fee, but was concerned about others who may not be able to cough up the money or be able to travel out of town for the service.
A Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) spokesperson said there were a number of services that offer hearing screening in Wagga for children and adults.
“Due to low demand for hearing screening at Wagga Wagga Community Health as a result of the other services available, this has not been provided since 2013 with resources diverted to screening services for newborns,” the spokesperson said.
“Private audiologist/audiometrists provide services for health care card holders, pensioners and veterans.”
The spokesperson said Australian Hearing offered free testing for infants under 21 months old, or from a Statewide Infant Screening – Hearing (SWISH) referral under three years old.
SWISH tests are performed for all newborns at hospitals across the district.
For children over three years old, a GP check for a middle ear infection is required before going to Australian Hearing.
