Who Are We

Meet Sue

Christchurch Audiologist, Owner and Hearing Aid Wearer

I own Hearing with Heart, an independent audiology and ear hygiene practice at The Acres in Halswell, Christchurch. I hold a Master of Audiology from the University of Canterbury, I am a registered member of the New Zealand Audiological Society (MNZAS), and I wear hearing aids myself, every day.

Like a lot of people, I needed hearing aids long before I got them. My tipping point came at work. I was a speech and language therapist, and I could no longer pick up the speech of the children I was working with. That was when I stopped putting it off.

I am not just your audiologist. I am a hearing aid wearer too, and proud of it.

I have lived with hearing loss for most of my adult life, and I have worn hearing aids daily for more than 20 years. I know the frustration and embarrassment of not hearing properly: missing the punchline, answering the wrong question, and being exhausted by the end of a day of concentrating. I have wondered whether hearing aids would really make a difference. I also know the moment everything comes back into focus, and I am here to support you on your journey.

I've worn what I recommend

I own this practice and I wear the technology full time. That includes mountain bike trails with friends and nights in back-country huts, where there is wind, chatter around the table and plenty of laughter. It also includes busy cafes, meetings and family gatherings.

When manufacturers release new devices, I trial and wear them myself, so I can tell you how I found them in day-to-day use. What I tell you about them is my own experience — and I will tell you what I did not get on with as readily as what I did.

How I got here

I started with a Bachelor of Speech and Language Therapy at the University of Canterbury, then spent 10 years as a speech language therapist in the hospital setting. I saw first-hand how much communication matters to confidence, connection and wellbeing.

My own hearing kept raising questions I could not answer. I wanted to understand how hearing works and what hearing aids actually do, and that curiosity took me back to Canterbury to complete a Master of Audiology. I have worked in audiology since 2018, and I am a registered member of the New Zealand Audiological Society (MNZAS).

How I work

I will not rush you. Because I own the practice, I decide how long your appointment takes, and I use that time to listen. I want to understand how your hearing is affecting your life, and how it affects the people closest to you, who often notice it before you do.

From there, I will talk you through the options that suit your hearing, your lifestyle and your goals. I will be straight with you about what hearing aids can and cannot do. And if I do not think you need anything, I will tell you that too.

Common Questions

Who will I see at my appointment? 

Me. Hearing with Heart is a one-audiologist practice, so the person who tests your hearing is the person who follows up with you.

A Bachelor of Speech and Language Therapy and a Master of Audiology, both from the University of Canterbury. I am a registered member of the New Zealand Audiological Society (MNZAS), and I have worked in audiology since 2018, after 10 years as a speech language therapist.

Yes — daily, for more than 20 years.

If you want your own hearing checked

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This page is general information. A hearing test measures your own hearing and is the only way to know where yours sits.

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