Hearing health is brain health.
Soundwell 365® is a deeper, more comprehensive approach to audiology - where hearing clarity meets cognitive vitality.
Introducing the Soundwell 365 Program.
If you have begun to wonder whether changes in your memory, concentration, or communication are simply part of normal ageing, or something that deserves closer attention, you are not alone.
Many people notice increasing difficulty recalling names, following conversations in noise, keeping track of details, or feeling mentally exhausted after listening. What is less widely understood is that these experiences may not relate to memory alone. Hearing, listening effort, attention, and cognitive wellbeing are closely connected.
Soundwell shines a light on this important intersection.
Developed exclusively by Deane Audiology and drawing on more than 25 years of clinical experience, Soundwell is our proprietary approach to hearing and cognitive wellness. Rather than considering hearing in isolation, it offers a deeper perspective on how changes in hearing and communication may be influencing your everyday experience and long-term wellbeing.
Soundwell is science-led, highly personalised, and designed to provide meaningful insight. It may help establish an objective baseline, identify areas that deserve closer attention, and provide a clearer direction for proactive care and ongoing monitoring.
For some people, this brings reassurance. For others, it may help clarify where to focus next or whether further discussion with a GP or specialist would be valuable.
Soundwell is not designed to diagnose cognitive impairment, dementia, or any other medical condition. It does not replace appropriate medical assessment. Its purpose is to help you better understand your hearing and cognitive wellness within a broader, more connected picture.
Soundwell is not simply about testing your memory. And it is not simply about testing your hearing. It is about gaining greater insight into an important part of healthy ageing, so you can make informed, proactive decisions for the years ahead.
Hearing health is brain health. Soundwell makes that connection clinical, measurable, and meaningful.
Soundwell is Deane Audiology's signature 12-month hearing health and wellness program — the only structured audiology program in the region that formally integrates cognitive screening and monitoring with hearing care. The hearing : cognition connection is well-established in the research — untreated hearing loss is now recognised as one of the most significant readily modifiable risk factors for cognitive decline. This is because the brain works harder (called Cognitive Load) to process speech through the lens of impaired hearing, subsequently leaving fewer resources for the higher executive functions of memory, attention, and thinking. Unnecessary cognitive load left untreated can cause functional changes in the brain, accounting for increased risks of neurodegenerative disease.
The Soundwell 365 Program.
The clinical rationale: Research published in leading neurology and audiology journals consistently links untreated hearing loss with increased risk of cognitive decline. The mechanisms are well-established: hearing loss increases the cognitive load of everyday listening, may reduce social engagement, and is associated with accelerated brain atrophy in auditory processing regions. Treating hearing loss is now recognised as one of the most readily modifiable risk factors for dementia prevention.
Soundwell exists to take that research off the page and into clinical practice.
What the program includes:
Comprehensive baseline diagnostic hearing assessment
Cognitive screening — measured before, during and after intervention strategies, administered by a certified practitioner
Personalised hearing intervention (hearing technology and/or sound therapy as appropriate)
Structured 12-month follow-up schedule with hearing and communication progress review
Cognitive monitoring at program milestones — tracking function before, during, and after intervention
Detailed progress reporting, suitable for sharing with your GP or treating specialist
Why monitoring matters: Most audiology practices fit devices and schedule annual check-ups. Soundwell goes further: by measuring cognitive function at the start and monitoring it across the program, we can demonstrate — with data — whether intervention is making a meaningful difference. For clients, that's accountability. For referring clinicians, it's the kind of outcome evidence that justifies the referral.
Who it's for: Clients who want more than a hearing aid. Particularly valuable for those with concerns about cognitive health, and cognitive prevention, those with a family history of dementia, clients whose GPs have raised hearing-cognition concerns, and anyone who wants their hearing care to be proactive rather than reactive.
Note: Soundwell is a private program. Contact us to discuss eligibility and program investment.
Soundwell - the Process
-
Plan With Purpose.
Starting with an extended diagnostic assessment of hearing and cognitive status, we agree upon your hearing wellness goals. Together, we outline a path forward that’s realistic and tailored to your needs. We don’t guess. We measure.
-
Pattern Interruption.
The ACTION phase. We address immediate, known communication issues and interrupt behavioural patterns with a new healthy solution. This is informed by multiple clinically valid measures of your individual data
-
New Healthy Habits.
Now your solution is in place, you are consistently stimulating auditory centres in the brain in a healthy new way. That beautiful process of neuroplasticity is well underway.
-
Optimal Hearing Wellness.
New healthy hearing habits are baked in and you feel able to process speech more accurately, enjoy less listening fatigue and interact better than before.
-
Ongoing Support.
Your hearing changes and evolves over time. At least annually, we monitor progress and re-align objectives, ensuring your solution continues to meet your needs.
Other Services
Diagnostic Hearing Assessment.
The most important conversation starts with the most accurate picture.
A comprehensive clinical evaluation following Audiology Australia best-practice protocols — not a screen, not a quick check. You'll leave with a detailed report, a plain-language explanation of your results, and a clear recommended pathway forward.
Learn More
Extended High Frequency Audiometry.
Hearing beyond the standard test — excellent for tinnitus management and more.
One of very few clinics in Australia to offer EHF testing up to 16,000 Hz — the range standard tests miss entirely. Particularly valuable for tinnitus, speech-in-noise difficulty, and monitoring the effects of noise exposure or ototoxic medications.
Learn More
Tinnitus Assessment & Management.
There's no single solution for tinnitus. The right approach starts with the right assessment.
A dedicated tinnitus consultation that goes well beyond a standard hearing test — characterising your tinnitus, quantifying its impact, and building a personalised management plan drawn from evidence-based approaches including sound therapy, counselling, and hybrid hearing technology where appropriate.
Learn More
Hearing Technology — Customised Solutions.
The right device is actually a solution - one that fits your hearing, your life, and your goals.
As a fully independent audiologist with no manufacturer affiliations, every recommendation is made on clinical grounds alone. All fittings are verified using Real Ear Measurement — the gold standard for confirming your devices are actually delivering the right prescription.
Learn More
Hearing Aid Re-Fitting & Rescue.
Already have hearing aids but not wearing them? Let's fix that — without automatically replacing them.
A surprisingly large number of hearing aid problems are fixable, without buying new devices — with proper verification, reprogramming, and support. If your existing aids can meet your needs, let’s get it done properly. Often a simple change to the acoustics can make them more comfortable and effective.
Learn More
Get In Touch
By leaving some details here we’ll have the correct information & get back to you within 24 hours.
“I had read that hearing and dementia are linked. Dementia runs in our family - horrible thing. I thought I better understand more about it and Rachel’s testing and explanation was excellent, very comprehensive. I decided to do something about improving my hearing and the Soundwell program I think is very good.”
- Colin G, Broker