Learning to Listen: Ron Trounson’s Journey into Audiology

Though well-qualified as an audiologist, with more than 10 years of professional experience, Ron Trounson, co-owner at Ear Health in Auckland, says growing up in a household with his deaf mother is where he acquired his most valuable credentials.

“My mum had meningitis as a child and lost 100 per cent hearing in one ear and most of her hearing in her other ear. She lip-read her way through school and when hearing aid technology finally became available, used hearing aids,” says Trounson, who lived in Hauraki in early childhood.

As a child, Trounson learned how best to communicate with people experiencing hearing loss – speaking in a lower and slower voice, avoiding mumbling and using more straightforward language when appropriate.

“Growing up with Mum gave me an understanding of the challenges hearing loss creates every day,” he says. “That understanding and empathy become the foundation for finding the right solution for each client.”

Before becoming an audiologist, Trounson earned a Chemical Engineering degree from the University of Auckland and worked in Brazil for 10 years. The South American sojourn added to his communication skills.

“I lived 10 years in Brazil, working on major projects that required me to communicate with people from all over the world, so you learn how to adjust your communication style depending on who you’re talking to,” he says.

“Brazilians are very social. So now I basically ‘chin-wag’ all day as part of my job.”

And the ‘chin-wagging’ has become one of Ear Health’s points of difference.

Large audiology franchises can be impersonal, and clients often see a different audiologist each time. But at Ear Health, clients see either Trounson, Dr Søren Thompson or Eric Andre.

“We remember you, our previous conversations and your device preferences,” Trounson says. “We’re also free to have an open conversation about your hearing. There are no scripts to follow or corporate sales targets to satisfy. Our focus is simply finding the solution that best fits your situation.”

Ear Health also offers earwax removal, which many hearing clinics don’t provide. The build-up of earwax can significantly affect hearing and the performance of hearing aids, so having both services under one roof makes life easier for clients.

“You don’t have to go somewhere else to get your ears cleaned, only to come back and have your hearing aids adjusted. We can look after everything in one place.”

Since Ron began his career in audiolgy, hearing aid technology has advanced dramatically.

“The introduction of artificial intelligence is the biggest breakthrough I’ve seen since directional microphones,” Trounson says. “AI is helping solve the problem that most people struggle with—hearing conversations in background noise.”

Today’s hearing aids are smaller, smarter and more discreet than ever before. Some fit almost invisibly inside the ear, while others resemble modern wireless earbuds and connect seamlessly to smartphones using low-powered Bluetooth technology.

But according to Trounson, the greatest transformation isn’t the technology itself—it’s what people experience when they begin hearing well again.

“The first surprise is realising what they’ve been missing for years,” he says. “Then they notice they’re less tired because they’re no longer using so much mental energy trying to fill in the missing pieces of conversations.”

“The best part is hearing clients tell us they’re enjoying family dinners again, keeping up with their grandchildren or simply feeling included in conversations instead of sitting quietly on the sidelines.”

Despite these advances, Trounson says many people still wait far too long before having their hearing checked.

“A lot of people worry they’ll be pressured into buying hearing aids,” he says. “My advice is to come in for a baseline hearing check. Sometimes people simply need time to understand where their hearing is before they’re ready to talk about solutions.”

“If you make hearing checks part of your regular healthcare, you’ll learn more about your hearing each year and can make informed decisions when the time is right.”

For Trounson, the technology is impressive, but helping people reconnect with the people and moments that matter most remains the most rewarding part of the job.