earLAB

30/10/2026

🚫 Things that do not belong in your ear canal

Cotton buds. Hair grips. Car keys. Rolled-up tissue. Your little finger. Twisted paper "ear candles". A biro lid. Someone else's earphones.

Your ears are actually self-cleaning! Every time you put a cotton bud in, you can push wax deeper and scratch very delicate skin in your ear canal. That's how blockages and infections can start.

If it feels blocked, come and see us. 20 minutes, no discomfort, and it's gone!
https://www.earlab.com.au/services/microsuction-earwax-removal

28/10/2026

"One good ear is enough, isn't it?"

Nope! Two ears give you more than volume. They tell you where sound comes from, help your brain filter speech out of background noise, and share the listening load so you are not shattered by 4pm. Lose one side and all three take a hit.

Nobody is saying you can’t cope. Plenty of people manage brilliantly for years. The question is how much energy that coping costs you, and whether it needs to.

Our guide walks through the practical options, from CROS and BiCROS fittings to bone conduction devices and cochlear implants.

https://www.earlab.com.au/blog-post/single-sided-deafness-why-one-good-ear-isnt-the-same-as-two

A clear guide to single-sided deafness, head shadow & treatment choices. Insight from independent audiologists in Footscray & Richmond.

22/10/2026

⚠️ An important question for anyone managing diabetes or high blood pressure, and for the GPs looking after them!

When did hearing last come up in a check-up?

Eyes, feet and kidneys are standard. Hearing rarely makes the list, yet people with diabetes are around twice as likely to experience hearing loss.

https://www.earlab.com.au/blog-post/diabetes-blood-pressure-and-hearing-the-link-we-dont-want-gps-to-miss

📍 Footscray and Richmond, with same-day and next-day appointments often available.

Eyes, feet, kidneys & now ears. Audiologists in Melbourne explain why hearing belongs in your diabetes cycle of care, whether you’re a GP or patient.

20/10/2026

One ear working harder than the other? Here's a fun test

▪️The phone swap. Make a call and listen with your usual ear, then switch sides mid-conversation. Notice a difference? That's worth investigating!

Whilst this is a fun exercise, there is real benefit from knowing your baseline hearing. It helps you to recognise when things have changed and when intervention is needed.

Your ears are sisters, not twins. Book a hearing test and find out where you stand today to keep your ear health optimum for longer.

Give us a ring or book an appointment at our Footscray or Richmond clinics!
https://earlab.au1.cliniko.com/bookings

14/10/2026

Wondering what actually happens in a hearing test? It’s not just beeps…

There’s nothing to be nervous about, and it’s quite an interesting experience!

Our latest guide walks you through every stage of a comprehensive hearing exam, from the ear health check to the speech-in-noise test, so you know exactly what to expect before you sit down.

Get audiologist-led care in Footscray and Richmond. Same-day and next-day appointments often available:

https://www.earlab.com.au/blog-post/what-happens-in-a-hearing-test-a-walkthrough-of-your-hearing-assessment

Nervous about your first hearing check? It's painless, quick & surprisingly interesting! See each stage explained by our Melbourne audiologists.

12/10/2026

⚠️ A fall at home, and someone knows within seconds

One in three people over 65 has a fall each year, and the real danger often isn't the fall itself. It's lying there for hours waiting for help.

This is a game-changing feature! Certain hearing aids can detect a fall and automatically send an alert to up to three people you've chosen, with your location attached. A text lands on their phone. Then they can ring you or they come round.

You can also trigger the alert yourself through the app if you feel unwell or unsteady and want someone to know.

No pendant round your neck. No button on the wall you can't reach. Just your hearing aids doing something extra while you get on with your day.

Come and talk to us about whether this suits you!
https://earlab.au1.cliniko.com/bookings

07/10/2026

Summer is on its way… and it can really mess up hearing aids!

Sand in the battery door, sunscreen blocking the microphones, salt air quietly corroding the contacts.

Here’s how to prep and save a trip to the repair queue.

https://www.earlab.com.au/blog-post/hearing-aids-and-the-great-australian-outdoors-beach-bush-and-sweat

Planning a holiday or just love the outdoors? Here's how to keep your hearing aids working through the beach, bush & heat, plus when to book a check.

03/10/2026

Putting ear wax removal off because you're nervous? Read this!

We get it. Something going in your ear sounds alarming.

But here's why microsuction is the painless option to wax removal:

It's performed by a qualified audiologist, and we can see everything! Magnified, lit, the whole canal in view. No guessing, no blind flushing, no warm water shooting past your eardrum.

And you're in control the whole time. Want a break? Say so.

Want us to stop and explain? Ask. It's your ear and your appointment.

The people who dread it most are usually the ones who walk out saying "Was that it?" 😅

Come and get it sorted!

We often have same-day and next-day appointments available in Footscray or Richmond: https://earlab.au1.cliniko.com/bookings

29/09/2026

Online hearing tests vs hearing assessment? 👂

Online hearing tests can provide an initial indication of how well you may be hearing. They can be a helpful first step if you have noticed changes or want to check whether further advice may be needed.

However, an online test cannot replace a comprehensive, face-to-face hearing assessment.

When you visit us, we can:

Examine your ears for wax, infection or other concerns
Use calibrated clinical equipment in a controlled environment
Test each ear individually
Assess how well you understand speech
Consider your symptoms, medical history and everyday listening needs
Interpret your results professionally and recommend the right next steps

A hearing assessment looks at the full picture, rather than relying on a single result.

If you've noticed a change in your hearing, arrange a professional assessment with our team in Footscray or Richmond.

Same-day and next-day appointments right here: https://earlab.au1.cliniko.com/bookings

23/09/2026

We often miss the early signs of hearing loss because they don’t look like what we expect!

Our brains are incredibly skilled at compensating for gradual changes, so hearing loss can be difficult to notice early on when solutions matter most.

Here are some of the most surprising signs that you might need a comprehensive hearing test!

Remember, you can book for a same-day or next-day appointment with us in Footscray or Richmond:

https://www.earlab.com.au/blog-post/important-interesting-and-unusual-signs-that-you-need-a-hearing-aid

Don’t ignore these surprising & important warning signs that indicate you may need a hearing aid. Protect brain health with Melbourne audiologists.