What Dilworth Hearing does

Dilworth Hearing Ltd is a New Zealand audiology clinic network founded in 1960 by Ear, Nose and Throat specialists and currently operating more than 20 owned clinics nationwide, including 11 in Auckland and locations from Hamilton and Tauranga through Wellington, Christchurch, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, and Dunedin. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Amplifon S.P.A., the Italian-listed global hearing healthcare group with operations in roughly 30 countries. Dilworth serves adults with hearing concerns, children and families, and medical professionals, offering free hearing screenings for adults 18+, full diagnostic hearing assessments (NZ$135), micro-suction ear wax removal (NZ$80), tinnitus and auditory processing assessments, paediatric testing from 6 months in Auckland, vestibular testing in Christchurch, cochlear implant support, and a full hearing aid catalogue spanning Behind-the-Ear, Receiver-in-Canal, Invisible-in-Canal, In-the-Ear, and Completely-in-Canal styles.

The business combines a clinical services model with hearing aid hardware sales, layered with multi-payer funding mechanics. Revenue streams include professional service fees for assessments and wax removal, hardware sales of hearing aids across price tiers (with a 60-day money-back guarantee), and pass-through administration of Ministry of Health subsidies (NZ$511.11 per aid or NZ$1,022.22 per pair), ACC cover for injury-related hearing loss, and Veterans' Affairs support. Q MasterCard 12 and 18-month interest-free financing is offered on purchases above NZ$200 to support higher-value device sales. Customer acquisition operates through four reinforcing channels: direct-to-consumer clinic bookings via phone (0800 005 641) and online forms, a dedicated GP referral portal at gp.dilworth.co.nz integrated with Medtech, Manage My Health, and ERMS, a CME-accredited GP Talks webinar program delivered by senior audiologists, and community partnerships with AA New Zealand and SuperGold Card holders.

Underlying device technology is sourced through Amplifon's global manufacturer partnerships and centers on AI-powered hearing aids with machine learning-driven real-time environmental adaptation, Bluetooth connectivity for direct audio streaming, rechargeable battery systems, and adaptive directional microphones. Technology and clinical credibility are reinforced by all audiologists being members of the New Zealand Audiological Society, access to Amplifon's Centre for Research and Studies for research and education, and a Reader's Digest Quality Service Award 2026 in the Hearing Services category. There are no proprietary patents, in-house AI models, or public API or developer platform signals disclosed in the available data.

Name

Dilworth Hearing

Legal name

Dilworth Hearing Ltd

Website

https://dilworth.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Dilworth Hearing is a New Zealand audiology clinic network founded in 1960 and owned by Amplifon S.P.A., operating 20+ clinics that deliver hearing assessments, fittings, ear wax removal, and tinnitus and paediatric care to adult, paediatric, and government-funded patients nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Audiology & Hearing Healthcare Services

NAICS

Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (621340)

SIC

Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

akta.pro primary industry

Audiology & Hearing Services (ENT-Affiliated) (HLAKAMAI)

Keywords

• Audiology services
• Hearing aid fittings
• Hearing assessments
• Ear wax removal
• Tinnitus management

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices19 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel

Revenue model

1. Hearing Assessments: Full diagnostic hearing assessments provided by qualified audiologists for adults ($135) with free initial hearing screenings for adults 18+
2. Ear Wax Removal: Micro-suction ear wax removal services at $80 per appointment, including a free hearing screening post-procedure
3. Hearing Aid Sales: Sale of hearing aids across various styles (behind-the-ear, receiver-in-canal, invisible-in-canal, in-the-ear, completely-in-canal) with 60-day money-back guarantee and manufacturer warranties
4. Government Subsidies: Ministry of Health subsidy of $511.11 per hearing aid or $1,022.22 per pair passed through to patients; additional means-tested funding schemes for eligible individuals
5. Interest-Free Financing: Q MasterCard 12 and 18-month interest-free financing options facilitating higher-value hearing aid purchases
6. ACC and Veteran Funding: Claims processing and funding facilitation for ACC and Veterans' Affairs eligible patients, covering hearing aids, assessments, and consumables

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Dilworth Hearing operates 20+ audiology clinics across New Zealand offering free hearing screenings, full diagnostic hearing assessments, hearing aid fittings and sales, ear wax removal via micro-suction, tinnitus management, paediatric testing, and specialised services such as cochlear implant support and vestibular testing. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of global hearing healthcare leader Amplifon S.P.A. and serves both consumer patients and GP-referred cases across all major New Zealand centres.

Product overview

Dilworth Hearing is a New Zealand audiology clinic network offering a comprehensive suite of hearing healthcare services and products. The core offering includes free hearing screenings, full diagnostic hearing assessments, and various specialized tests (tinnitus, APD, paediatric, vestibular). The company provides multiple hearing aid types including Behind-the-Ear (BTE), Receiver in the Ear (RIC), Invisible in Canal (IIC), In the Ear (ITE), and Completely-in-Canal (CIC) styles, with advanced AI-powered, Bluetooth-enabled, and rechargeable options. Services extend to ear wax removal via micro-suction, hearing aid fitting and ongoing reviews, cochlear implants, and vestibular testing. Funding and financing options include government subsidies, ACC, Veterans' Affairs, and interest-free finance through Q MasterCard. The company operates over 20 clinics nationwide and is part of the global Amplifon Group.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Research indicates wearing hearing aids may reduce the rate of cognitive decline for high-risk older adults
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AA New ZealandcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAA Members aged 15+ with detected hearing loss are entitled to one free full diagnostic hearing assessment (valued at $135) per year at any Dilworth Hearing clinic. Dilworth Hearing benefits from access to AA's membership base for patient acquisition while AA members receive exclusive hearing care benefits.
• Hearing Dogs NZminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDilworth Hearing supports Hearing Dogs NZ, an independent charitable trust that trains and places Hearing Dogs with deaf and severely hearing impaired New Zealanders. Dilworth Hearing promotes Hearing Dogs as an alternative or complementary support for clients with profound hearing loss.
• Ministry of Health NZcoreOthersMinistry of Health provides the Hearing Aid Subsidy Scheme ($511.11 per aid/$1,022.22 per pair) and Hearing Aid Funding Scheme for eligible NZ citizens and permanent residents. Dilworth Hearing assists patients with subsidy applications and administration.
• ACC (Accident Compensation Corporation)coreOthersACC provides funding for hearing aids, assessments, and consumables for patients with injury-related or work-related noise-induced hearing loss. Dilworth Hearing lodges claims on patients' behalf and guides them through the 3-step ACC funding process.
• Veterans' Affairs NZcoreOthersVeterans' Affairs covers hearing aids (up to $900 per aid) and service costs for veterans with service-related hearing loss. Dilworth Hearing assists veterans with funding applications and provides hearing care services.
• Q MasterCard / Columbus Financial ServicescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorQ MasterCard (administered by Columbus Financial Services) provides 12 and 18-month interest-free financing for hearing aid purchases over $200. This partnership enables patients who cannot afford upfront costs to access hearing aids through manageable payment plans.
• Marketing Association NZminorOthersDilworth Hearing is a member of the Marketing Association and abides by the Codes of Practice for Marketing in New Zealand, demonstrating commitment to ethical marketing standards.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Triton Hearing (formerly Triton Hearing NZ): NZ audiology retail chain offering hearing assessments, hearing aids and ear care services nationally. Operates as a direct competitor to Dilworth in the same product categories and customer segments.
• Bay Audiology: One of New Zealand's largest audiology clinic networks, operating across multiple NZ locations. Direct competitor to Dilworth on the same services (diagnostic assessments, hearing aids, fittings) and target consumer segment.
• Audika (formerly National Hearing Care): European-backed audiology retail chain serving New Zealand and Australia with hearing aids and audiology services. Closely comparable business model to Dilworth's owned-clinic approach.

Broad incumbents

• Sonova (Phonak/Unitron retail): Global hearing instrument manufacturer and vertically integrated retailer. Comparable as the broader incumbent operating both manufacturing and select retail; shapes industry pricing and product roadmap.
• Demant (Oticon): Global hearing healthcare group covering hearing aids, implants and diagnostics. Indirectly comparable through retail/clinical-channel partnerships and presence in NZ via Amplifon-aligned competitors.

Others

• Amplifon S.P.A. Dilworth's parent company and global hearing healthcare leader with operations in ~30 countries. While not a peer in the competitive sense, Amplifon's clinic operating model and product strategy directly frames Dilworth's service model.

Regional players

• bloom hearing (formerly Hearing Life): Australia-based hearing clinic chain now part of WS Audiology. Comparable retail audiology operating model across the Tasman; instructive cross-reference for Dilworth's clinic economics and product mix.
• Attune Hearing: Australian audiology clinic chain focused on diagnostic assessments and hearing aid fittings. Closely comparable operating model to Dilworth but in the trans-Tasman market.

Emerging players

• Specsavers Audiology (Hearcare): Specsavers' audiology division offers hearing services integrated with optical retail, creating bundled convenience. Competes with Dilworth on price-positioned hearing aid offerings in NZ.
• Costco Hearing Aid Centers: Warehouse-club hearing aid retail with extreme pricing and curated manufacturer selection. Captures a commoditised slice of hearing aid demand and pressures the value-end pricing Dilworth can charge.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/dilworthhearing
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dilworth-hearing

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Dilworth Hearing