Penelope Woods

I believe good hearing care begins with understanding the person behind the test results. I take time to learn what has changed, which situations are becoming difficult, what has been tried before and what the person hopes to regain. My role is to make the clinical picture understandable and help each person decide what feels appropriate for them. As Clinical Director and co-owner of A Better Ear, I guide the clinic’s clinical standards and the values that shape how our team works with adults and their families. I particularly enjoy complex hearing rehabilitation, including helping people who have felt uncertain, discouraged or poorly understood during previous care. I graduated as an audiologist in 2015 and established A Better Ear in 2019 after working with major hearing-care providers across South East Queensland and supporting regional clinics through fly-in, fly-out work. My approach is informed by counselling, motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioural techniques relevant to audiological rehabilitation. I have also led the development of our tinnitus assessment and management program, supported by advanced training, workshops and clinical mentorship. Beyond the clinic, I advocate for better public understanding of hearing health through community education and regular articles for Redland City News.

A Better Ear is an independent adult hearing clinic located in Ormiston, supporting people throughout the Redlands and Brisbane’s bayside. The clinic provides hearing assessment, hearing rehabilitation, hearing-aid fitting and ongoing adjustment, tinnitus assessment and management, and earwax removal. Clinical recommendations are based on the person’s assessed hearing needs, communication difficulties and individual circumstances. Hearing technology is considered where appropriate, but it is not assumed to be the only or automatic response. Rehabilitation may also involve communication strategies, education, counselling and continued review as needs change. The clinic uses evidence-based assessment and verification processes, including speech-in-noise testing and real ear measurements where clinically appropriate. These measures help clinicians understand hearing difficulties beyond the basic audiogram and confirm how hearing devices are performing for the individual wearer. Partners, family members and other support people are welcome to participate in appointments. A Better Ear also assists eligible clients through the Australian Government Hearing Services Program, including eligible veterans and DVA clients. Medicare-funded audiological services are available where the relevant referral and eligibility requirements are met.