Key Takeaways
- GoldCare Medical Centre now hosts free fortnightly hearing assessments with visiting Principal Audiologist Ara Moorthy.
- Eligible patients, including pension and healthcare concession card holders, can access subsidised or fully covered services through Medicare and the Australian Government Hearing Services Program.
- Ara brings over 20 years of audiology experience across Australia and New Zealand, with a focus on adult hearing rehabilitation and current hearing technology.
- Services include full hearing assessments, hearing aid fitting and programming, tinnitus management, ear wax removal, and custom hearing protection.
- Spots are limited. This runs fortnightly, so book early.
Hearing Health Is Now Easier to Access Than Ever
Most people wait far too long before getting their hearing checked. Research consistently shows the average person waits 7 to 10 years between first noticing hearing difficulties and seeking help. By that point, the impact goes well beyond their ears. It has often touched their confidence, their relationships, and in many cases, their cognitive health.
No one in the Dandenong community should have to wait that long, or face a cost barrier, just to find out where their hearing stands.
That is why GoldCare Medical Centre is pleased to announce that Ara Moorthy, Principal Audiologist, will now visit every fortnight to offer free hearing assessments to eligible patients, right here, close to home. This is one of the most practical preventive health opportunities available to our community, and we strongly encourage every eligible patient to take it.
Meet Ara Moorthy, Your Visiting Audiologist
Ara Moorthy brings more than 20 years of audiology experience helping adults improve their hearing across metropolitan and regional communities in both New Zealand and Australia. Patients consistently describe his approach as thorough, unhurried, and reassuring.
Ara understands that hearing loss is never just a physical issue. It affects how people connect with family, follow conversation, and participate in daily life. He has seen firsthand how isolating untreated hearing loss becomes, and how significantly the right support can change that.
He is a member of Independent Audiologists Australia and holds accreditation with Audiology Australia, reflecting his commitment to ethical, patient-centred care. He is a registered provider with the Australian Government’s Hearing Services Program and is registered with Medicare, making his services accessible to a wide range of patients including pension and healthcare concession card holders.
What Sets Ara Apart
Ara takes the time to listen before he recommends anything. He explains findings in plain language, without jargon, and builds a plan that genuinely fits the individual’s lifestyle and communication needs.
His special interest is adult hearing rehabilitation, helping people not just identify hearing loss but understand it and manage it practically. He is particularly focused on the latest generation of hearing aids, which have advanced significantly in recent years: smaller, smarter, Bluetooth-enabled, and capable of transforming everyday listening in ways older devices could not.
“Hearing health is about staying connected to the people and the life you love. My goal is always to make that connection easier.” – Ara Moorthy, Principal Audiologist
What Services Are Available?
During his fortnightly visits, Ara offers a comprehensive range of audiology services at GoldCare Medical Centre.
Comprehensive Adult Hearing Assessments
A full audiological evaluation measuring hearing sensitivity across frequencies, assessing speech understanding, and producing a detailed audiogram. This is the foundation for any further care and takes approximately 45 to 60 minutes.
Hearing Aid Fitting, Programming and Ongoing Support
If hearing aids are recommended, Ara provides expert fitting and programming tailored to your specific hearing profile and lifestyle. He works with current hearing technology including virtually invisible, Bluetooth-enabled, and rechargeable devices. Ongoing support visits ensure your devices continue to perform as your needs change.
Tinnitus Assessment and Management
Persistent ringing, buzzing, or hissing in the ears affects millions of Australians. Ara provides thorough tinnitus assessments and evidence-based management strategies, including sound therapy and hearing device options, to reduce the impact tinnitus has on daily life and sleep.
Ear Wax Removal
Impacted earwax is one of the most common and easily corrected causes of hearing difficulty. Ara offers safe, professional cerumen removal, a fast and comfortable procedure that can deliver immediate improvement in hearing clarity.
Custom Hearing Protection
For patients in noisy work environments, musicians, or anyone regularly exposed to loud sound, Ara provides custom-moulded hearing protection that reduces damaging noise levels without distorting sound quality.
On-Site Services for Aged Care and Retirement Village Residents
Ara has a strong background providing audiology services to older adults in aged care and retirement settings, with a clear understanding of the unique communication needs of this group.
Medicare-Supported Hearing Services
Ara is registered with Medicare and the Australian Government Hearing Services Program. Eligible pension card and concession card holders can access subsidised or fully covered hearing services, removing the cost barrier that stops many people from getting help.
Why Early Detection Matters
A free hearing check might feel optional. The clinical evidence says otherwise.
The Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention, Intervention and Care (2020) identified hearing loss as the single largest modifiable risk factor for dementia, accounting for 8% of all global dementia cases, ranking above smoking, physical inactivity and high blood pressure.
The ACHIEVE Study (2023), published in The Lancet, found that among older adults at higher risk of cognitive decline due to existing cardiovascular risk factors, hearing intervention slowed cognitive decline by 48% over three years compared to those who went untreated. This benefit was observed in a pre-specified high-risk subgroup, and researchers noted the results support treating hearing loss early in people already at elevated cognitive risk.
Beyond cognition, untreated hearing loss is linked to depression, social isolation, reduced workplace performance, and lower quality of life across every age group.
The common thread is time. The earlier hearing loss is identified and managed, the better the outcomes, for hearing, for cognition, and for quality of life. A free hearing assessment at your own GP clinic is a rare and practical opportunity to act early.
Who Should Book an Appointment?
This service is relevant to you if:
- You frequently ask people to repeat themselves
- You find conversations in restaurants or groups difficult to follow
- Family members have mentioned the TV is too loud
- You experience persistent ringing or buzzing in your ears (tinnitus)
- You have not had a hearing assessment in the past 5 years
- You are over 50 and want a baseline hearing profile
- You hold a pension card, healthcare card, or Department of Veterans’ Affairs card
- You have concerns about a family member’s hearing
How to Book
Appointments with Ara Moorthy are available every fortnight at GoldCare Medical Centre.
Call GoldCare Medical Centre directly to request an appointment with Ara Moorthy.
Book online through HotDoc or speak to reception to confirm the next available session.
Appointment spots are limited. As a fortnightly specialist service, we recommend booking as early as possible to avoid missing the next available date.
A Note from Dr Vasu
Hearing health sits at the intersection of several things that matter deeply in general practice: early detection, chronic disease prevention, cognitive health, and quality of life.
One of the practical barriers I have seen over the years is access. Patients who would benefit from an audiologist do not always find it easy to book one, travel to one, or afford one. Having Ara available here at GoldCare removes those barriers for our community.
I personally encourage every patient who has had even a passing concern about their hearing to take advantage of this service. Your hearing is worth checking. Your brain will thank you for it.
Dr Vasuthan Sellathurai (Dr Vasu), Principal GP, GoldCare Medical Centre Learn more about Dr Vasu
