We provide hearing tests for both adults and children, with a specialised paediatric service for newborn, preschool and school age children. The department works closely with the BATOD (British Association of Teachers of the Deaf), the Trust’s Ear, Nose and Throat Department (ENT), and other services.
I would like a hearing test, what do I do?
Adult
Any new adult patient wishing to access the Audiology service must initially be referred via their GP. If you are already a patient and feel you need another test please contact the department and we can discuss the options with you.
I’m a new patient with a hearing loss, what now?
If you are an adult who has been referred via their GP and a hearing loss is diagnosed, the results and any management options available will be discussed with you. If you meet our complex needs criteria we will arrange for you to be fitted with hearing aid/s, providing you are happy for this to go ahead. If you do not meet the criteria you will be discharged back to your GP with further advice.
Adult Audiology Service Information
Paediatric
If you are a parent and you feel that your child requires a hearing test, you may then self-refer. Please note that self-referral is only available for children under the age of 18.
Please ring the department to arrange an appointment.
Please note that the child’s NHS number will be required when making a referral. This can be found in the child’s red book (PCHR) or from registered GP.
A range of subjective and objective testing methods are available depending on the age, developmental maturity and physical ability of the patient.
These include –
- Visual Reinforcement Audiometry
- Performance Audiometry
- Pure Tone Audiometry
- Tympanometry
- Otoacoustic Emissions
- Auditory Brainstem Response/Auditory Steady State Response testing
My child has a hearing loss, what now?
If your child attends the department for a hearing test and a potential loss is recorded, then the results will be sent to your GP. Your GP and/or the Trust’s ENT Department will then investigate the cause of the hearing loss. If it is determined that a hearing aid is required, your child will then be referred back to the Audiology Department where we will take care of aiding and aftercare.