Audiology – Appointment for Paediatric Hearing Test (104kB pdf)
Introduction
This guide will answer your questions about your baby or child’s Paediatric Hearing Test appointment with the Audiology team.
What is a Hearing Test appointment?
This is a diagnostic appointment to assess your baby or child’s hearing and middle ear function. Your ENT Specialist or Doctor has requested this appointment in preparation for your appointment with the ENT Specialist.
This appointment is to assess your baby or child’s hearing. We will look in their ear and check for obstructions. We will perform tests of middle ear function that look for things such as glue ear. This involves playing a small, painless change of pressure into the ear. We will assess hearing using a variety of methods involving games and looking for responses to sound. We understand that sometimes children do not want to do some of these things and will work with you and your child to obtain a clear set of results. Some older children may be able to perform a routine button pressing hearing test.
We will ask you a brief series of safety questions before proceeding, but we do not require, nor will take a full history as this is only a diagnostic service.
Getting to us
Please check your appointment letter for this information.
Where do you provide appointments?
We provide appointments St. Margaret’s Hospital in Epping and Herts and Essex Hospital in Bishop’s Stortford.
When should I arrive?
Please arrive at the time stated in your appointment letter and no more than 10 mins ahead of this.
How long will it take?
A hearing test usually takes between 30-45 minutes.
The day of the appointment: Who will I see?
Your child will see a Paediatric Audiologist or Trainee Paediatric Audiologist. All of our Audiologists are trained to at least BSc (degree) level. Our students are supervised either with someone in the room, or if they are experienced students, they may see you themselves. Audiologists are Healthcare Scientists, not Doctors.
We will ask you a brief series of safety questions before proceeding, but we do not require, nor will take a full history as this is only a diagnostic service.
After the appointment: What are the likely outcomes?
Your results will be available for your ENT Specialist to review. Any queries on follow up appointments should be addressed to the main outpatients booking team on 01279 827391.
Contacting the team
Audiology Department: St Margaret’s Hospital, The Plain, Epping, CM16 6TN
Phone number: 01279 827126, Email: [email protected]
If you would like this leaflet in another language or format, or you would like to give feedback on your care, please contact our patient experience team on [email protected]