Hearing Aid Technology
Can You Trial Hearing Aids Before Buying in Australia? How a Free Trial Works
Yes, you can trial hearing aids before buying in Australia, and with EarDoc you can trial premium Phonak, Oticon, Signia or Starkey hearing aids at home free for 21 days. No credit card, no clinic visit and no cost to send them back if they are not right for you.
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.
Why a real trial matters
Your brain needs time to get used to sounds it has been missing. The only real test is wearing hearing aids in your own life: at home, at work, in a busy cafe and with the grandkids. A trial lets you decide on how you actually hear, not on a sales pitch.
How the EarDoc trial works
- Free 30 minute call. An audiologist checks your hearing history and whether remote fitting suits you.
- Hearing aids delivered in about five days.
- Five or more remote fitting sessions. Audiologists from NeuroAudiology Australia’s Sydney clinics tune them to you by video.
- Wear them for 21 days. Keep them if they change your life. If not, post them back at no charge.
Who this trial is not for
We would rather lose a sale than fit the wrong person remotely. See a clinic in person first if you have ear pain or discharge, sudden hearing loss, ringing or loss in only one ear, dizziness, or a lot of earwax. If your hearing loss is severe to profound, an in-clinic fitting or a cochlear implant assessment may serve you better, and we will tell you on the call.
What to check before any hearing aid trial
- Is there a deposit or up-front payment?
- Are there return, restocking or cancellation fees?
- How long is the trial? Under two weeks is usually too short.
- How many adjustment appointments are included?
- Are you trialling the exact model you would buy?
- Who covers loss or damage during the trial?
Pensioner or DVA card holder?
You may be eligible for free hearing aids through the Government Hearing Services Program. We will talk you through that honestly on the call, even though it means you may not need EarDoc at all.
Frequently asked questions
Can I trial hearing aids before buying in Australia?
Yes. EarDoc lets you trial premium hearing aids from Phonak, Oticon, Signia or Starkey at home free for 21 days, fitted remotely by audiologists from NeuroAudiology Australia’s Sydney clinics. If they do not help, you post them back at no charge.
How long should a hearing aid trial be?
Long enough to test them at home, at work, in restaurants and with family. Two to four weeks is a sensible minimum. Seven days is usually too short to judge properly.
Do I have to pay a deposit?
Some clinics ask for a deposit or full payment up front. The EarDoc trial needs no credit card and no payment to start.
Who is the EarDoc trial not suitable for?
People with ear pain, discharge, sudden hearing loss, or one ear much worse than the other should see a clinic in person first, because these can need medical care. People with severe to profound loss may need an in-clinic fitting or a cochlear implant assessment instead.
What should I check before any hearing aid trial?
Deposits, return or restocking fees, who pays for loss or damage, how many adjustment appointments are included and whether you are trialling the exact model you would buy.
Who runs EarDoc?
EarDoc is powered by NeuroAudiology Australia, which has five Sydney clinics, and was founded by audiologist Mo Helou.
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