Children’s Hearing Assessment
Children's Hearing Assessment clinics are available at Sunderland Royal Hospital, Washington Health Centre and Palmer Community Hospital. There is direct access hearing assessment for children under 5 years of age (and separately for 5 to 18 years).
If there is concern regarding hearing at or shortly after birth, check the outcome of Newborn Hearing Screen and if appropriate refer urgently (assessment is more likely to be successful if undertaken within first 12 weeks of life). Please contact the Audiology service if advice is required.
This is an Audiologist led service undertaken by a professional with a British Academy of Audiology HTS qualification or equivalent in paediatric hearing assessment. Routine appointments are 30 min in duration and include relevant history, briefing of parents, appropriate behavioural audiological assessment, debrief of parents. For infants under 6 months of age a more specialised assessment is required and appointments may be up to 120 min.
Following the assessment a parent/family friendly report is produced and copied to appropriate professionals.
The outcome of the assessment may include discharge from service, monitoring of mild hearing loss, provision of amplification (hearing aids) and onward referral to an Ear Nose and Throat Consultant.
Children’s Hearing Aid Service
Children's Hearing Aid clinics are available at Sunderland Royal Hospital, Washington Health Centre and Palmer Community Hospital.
This is an Audiologist led service undertaken by a professional with a British Academy of Audiology HTS qualification or equivalent in paediatric hearing assessment/habilitation. Routine appointments are 60-90 min in duration and include relevant history, appropriate audiological assessment, prescription and verification of hearing aids, evaluation and arrangements for review.
High quality digital sound processing hearing aids are used and real ear measurement is used to accurately prescribe them to children.
A regular review of provision is provided as well as a booked repair service for maintenance.
There are specialist clinics for the provision of FM/remote microphone technology and for child-adult transition services. Support clinics are also provided in the school environment.
Following the assessment a parent/family friendly report is produced and copied to appropriate professionals.
Criteria for access
Referrals for Children’s Hearing Assessment are via Choose and Book or by GP/Professional referral.
Universal services
Paediatric Hearing Assessment Clinics, Paediatric Rehabilitation Clinics, Paediatric Hearing Aid Repair Clinics, Child-Adult Transition Services, Paediatric Hearing Aid Support Clinics in Schools,
Specialist services
Bone Conduction Hearing Aids