Children's hearing aid clinics
Children's hearing aid clinics
Children need to be referred by their GP direct to Audiology. If a hearing loss is found which would benefit from a hearing aid, this will be discussed and arrangements made for a hearing aid fitting if appropriate.
Arranging an appointment
If your child already has hearing aids and you would like their care to be transferred to the Royal Surrey County Hospital from elsewhere, you should see your GP who can refer you if this is appropriate. Once we have a referral, we can arrange an appointment quickly.
If your child already has hearing aids supplied by us, and you have a question or need to change your appointment, please contact us using the details below.
If you or your child requires an interpreter to be present at an appointment, please contact us as soon as possible so that we can arrange this.
Coming to an appointment
Where are clinics held?
Your appointment letter will confirm the location of your appointment.
Most of our appointments are held at the Royal Surrey County Hospital, in Outpatients 7. Click here for information on how to find us.
Older children (who can easily be tested by one Audiologist) can be seen for hearing aid reviews at the following locations if these are more convenient for you:
- West Byfleet Health Centre.
At the present time, the specialist equipment needed for testing young children, and children with complex needs, is only available at the Royal Surrey County Hospital.
What should I bring to my child’s appointment?
Children who already have hearing aids should bring these to every appointment.
If your child wears glasses, please bring these too.
What will happen at a hearing aid fitting appointment?
We will introduce ourselves to you, and give you the opportunity to ask questions.
Often we will not need to carry out any hearing tests at this appointment. If we do, then we should have talked about this at the last appointment.
We will:
- Check the hearing aid fits comfortably.
- Ensure the hearing aid is set as accurately as possible for your own child’s prescription.
- Check that your child is happy with the sound.
- Practice putting the hearing aid on and taking it off.
- Show you how to change the battery.
- Show you how to clean and care for the hearing aid.
Together we will agree a management plan for reviewing your child’s progress with their hearing aid.
What will happen at a hearing aid review appointment?
We will arrange regular hearing aid review appointments for your child to:
- Monitor their hearing.
- Check that the hearing aid fits well.
- Make sure you are happy with how to use and care for the hearing aid.
- Review the hearing aid settings.
- Assess the benefit your child is getting from their hearing aid.
- Give you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have.
None of the tests we carry out during hearing aid review appointments should be uncomfortable for your child or cause any side effects.
After an appointment
What happens next?
After a hearing aid fitting or hearing aid review appointment, you and your GP will receive a written report by post which outlines the results and management plan. Please provide us with names and addresses of any other health professionals that you would like to receive a copy of this report.
If you require any written information to be provided in any language other than English, please let us know as soon as possible.
How can I tell you what I think of the Paediatric Audiology Service?
We very much value feedback from all of our patients, and our receptionist may ask you to complete a satisfaction questionnaire when you come to your appointment.
In the children’s waiting area you will also find comments cards and a box, where you can tell us about your experience.
Would you like to be involved in our Parent Focus Group? If you tell us you are interested, we will email you 2-3 times per year to ask for your opinion on changes we are planning in the department. All responses are handled anonymously. We are very keen to receive feedback on our Children’s Hearing Aid service.
Problems with your child's hearing aid
Please do not hesitate to contact us if:
- You would like advice.
- The remedies above have not helped and you suspect that the hearing aid is damaged or faulty. A replacement hearing aid can be programmed and means of collection arranged.
- The problem occurring is not with the hearing aid itself e.g. if a new earmould is needed or the hearing aid requires some fine-tuning. If this is the case we can arrange a convenient time to see you and your child to work out the problem.
Unfortunately due to other clinic commitments it is not usually possible to replace / adjust a hearing aid if you drop-in without prior notification.