Adult Audiology & Hearing Therapy
Patients may be referred to Adult Audiology directly by their GP
if they are over 50 years of age and have no history of ear
problems. Those under 50 years will be referred to an ENT
Consultant who will assess and refer on to Audiology where
appropriate.
A Domiciliary service is provided for existing hearing aid
patients who are unable to attend the hospital, a referral letter
is required from the GP.
Services for Adult hearing aid fitting are also provided at
Ellesmere Port Hospital and Deeside Community Hospital.
Chester Adult Audiology has three purpose built sound treated
booths and four state of the art fitting rooms offering modern
digital technology for hearing aid fitting. A full range of tests
are available for hearing aid prescriptions to be made in
scientific and technical accordance to the patients hearing loss
and needs.
Assessment
A hearing test will be done to discover what level of sounds you
can hear. A full explanation of what to expect is in the patient
leaflet 'Further Hearing Investigations', under the preliminary
hearing test. This is the most common form of hearing test.
After the hearing test the audiologist will discuss the results
and ask some questions to enable them to jointly agree the best
care plan for your individual circumstances, a timescale will be
given for the agreed actions.
If hearing aid(s) are prescribed and you consent to proceed, the
audiologist will take an impression of the ear(s) by putting soft
paste into the ear; this takes about 5 minutes to set and is
removed. An appointment will be mutually agreed at this stage to
come back for a digital hearing aid(s) fitting.
In some cases hearing aids may be fitted using a small tube,
this is known as an open ear fitting and can be carried out after
the hearing test. Your audiologist will discuss whether this is
appropriate for you.
Digital Hearing Aid(s) Fitting Appointment
If you would like to be accompanied by a friend, relative or
carer we would welcome this. It can be very helpful in respect to
giving them a better understanding of your hearing loss and for you
to remember information given. Please bring reading glasses to you
appointment if you use them. The fitting appointment takes about 1
hour.
Hearing Aid Follow Up Appointment
After your hearing aid has been fitted a follow up appointment
will be offered to ensure there are no problems, this is routinely
done by telephone. A date and time is mutually agreed at the
hearing aid fitting appointment. For patients who are unable to use
the phone or are unsuitable for this service, a clinic appointment
will be mutually agreed.
Hearing Therapy Service
There is a modern purpose built hearing therapy room atChester.
The hearing therapist is able to provide additional support in an
individual care plan to ensure a quality service in hearing
rehabilitation is given. This may include use of hearing tactics,
lip reading, advice on environmental aids for use at home/work, and
auditory training. Individual programmes can be designed for
patients with special needs. Referrals to Hearing Therapy services
are made via Audiology for existing hearing aid patients or by
referral from ENT Consultants.
Tinnitus Clinic
Chester offers a long established Tinnitus Clinic that is
recognised by the British Tinnitus Association. Referrals to this
clinic are made via ENT or Audiology for existing hearing aid
users. Advice on general management and coping strategies together
with relaxation strategies maybe discussed as well as exploring the
possible cause and matters that you feel are relevant to you. If
appropriate, 'noise generators' may be fitted. These look similar
to a hearing aid and aim to help reduce your awareness of the
tinnitus by making a gentle 'rushing' noise. You will be given an
information pack and if you required will be offered a 1:1 or group
appointment according to your preference.
For further information on tinnitus contact the British Tinnitus
Association at: www.tinnitus.org.uk
Diagnostic Audiovestibular Service
Patients may be referred by ENT to the diagnostic
audiovestibular service for balance testing and/or further hearing
assessment. We have up-to-date testing facilities in a purpose
built room to offer the following:
- Videonystagmography and electronystagmography
- Caloric Testing
- Static Posturography
- Positioning manoeuvres (e.g. Dix-Hallpike test)
- Positional testing
- Electrocochleography
- Cortical Evoked Response Audiometry
If you are referred for balance testing a patient information
leaflet will be sent to you prior to your appointment. This will
explain what to expect at your appointment and give instructions on
what to do prior to attending. If you have any questions about our
service please feel free to contact the Clinical Audiology
department.
Bone Anchored Hearing Aid Service (BAHA)
The Clinical Audiology department is able to provide a
specialist service as a recognised regional BAHA centre. We work
alongside 2 specialist ENT Consultants atChesterin BAHA surgery and
provide assessment, fitting and management of BAHAs. BAHA can be
suitable for people who are affected by severe ear infections and
are unable to use conventional hearing aids or for single sided
hearing loss or congenital abnormalities and certain types of
hearing loss. Referrals can be made via your GP, ENT Consultant or
Audiologist.
For more information see:
www.entific.com
www.patients-baha.com
www.earnoseandthroatsurgery.co.uk
Association of Teachers of Lip-reading to Adults (ATLA):
Fax: 0870 706 2916
E-Mail: ATLA@lipreading.org.uk
Website: www.lipreading.org.uk