New Audiology Patient

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Adult Hearing Services

Balance Testing

Children's Hearing Services

Implantable Devices

Tinnitus Service

Adult Hearing Services

We see adult patients from the age of 18 for the assessment, support and treatment of people who are concerned about their hearing. Our main hospital site is based at Bradford Royal Infirmary but we run some clinics at Highfield Health Centre, St Luke’s Hospital, Westwood Park Treatment Centre and Windhill Green Medical Practice. Please check your appointment letter for more details.

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How do I contact the team?

If you would like to be seen for a hearing assessment please contact your GP who can arrange a referral. If you need to speak to one of the team about a referral or appointment we have several different ways you can get in touch:

What to expect at your first appointment

Woman using a hearing devicePlease make sure your ears are clear of wax before your appointment.

Your first appointment will be focused on discussing the problems you have noticed and the impact on your lifestyle. We will also ask some medical questions. This will be followed by an examination of your ears and then a hearing test. The room you will enter will either be entirely soundproof or will have a soundproof booth that we will ask you to sit in (if you are able) for the hearing test. We may carry out some other tests on your ears but we will explain these through with you first. We will then discuss the results with you and help you choose treatment options. Sometimes this includes making a referral for you to see an Ear, Nose and Throat Doctor or to have further hearing tests.

This appointment will approximately take one hour.

Children’s Hearing Services

Our children’s service sees children and young people up to the age of 18. Our services provide the assessment, rehabilitation and monitoring of children’s hearing. All children are seen at Bradford Royal Infirmary either at the outpatient department, which can be found to the right of A&E through the Ear, Nose, Throat and Eye Unit Outpatient’s entrance (Duckworth Lane), or at the Listening for Life Centre (Smith Lane). Please check your appointment letter details for more information.

How do I contact the team?

Your GP (or any other health professional) can refer you or your child to have a hearing assessment. Newborn babies can also be referred to our team after their newborn hearing screen. If you need to speak to one of the team about a referral or appointment we have several ways you can get in touch:

What to expect at your child’s first appointment

You may see either one or two professionals depending on the test required to test your child’s hearing. Sometimes we can get all of the hearing information from one appointment but often a second one is required. We will either play a game with your child to check their responses to sound and/or we will measure the response from the ear directly.

We will also have a discussion with you about your concerns and their general health. We will be in a soundproof room during the test and it is best to avoid bringing any other children to an appointment (if possible) to minimise noise during the hearing test. We will discuss the results of the test with you and discuss treatment options if required including; monitoring the hearing for a period of time, referring on to other health professionals and arranging a hearing aid fitting if required.

Your child’s hearing appointment may include some of the following tests:

  • Visual reinforcement audiometry: for developmental age of approximately 8 months to 2 ½ years
  • Play/performance audiometry: from developmental age of around of 2 ½ years old
  • Tympanometry: a pressure test to check eardrum movement

Visual Reinforcement

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Play Audiometry

Pressure Test (Tympanometry)

Tinnitus Service

The Tinnitus Service based at Bradford Royal Infirmary provides information, counselling and advice about tinnitus and the strategies available that can be used to help manage the symptoms. Tinnitus is a sound heard in either the ears or the head with no external cause.

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How do I contact the team?

If you would like to be referred please contact your GP, or if you are already a patient under our care ask one of the team, who can arrange a referral. If you need to speak to one of the team about a referral or appointment we have several different ways you can get in touch:

What to expect at your first appointment

Depending on your symptoms you will either be offered a face to face or telephone appointment. Make sure your ears are clear of wax before your appointment. During this first appointment we will discuss your symptoms with you, the different triggers, and the different treatment options available to you. You may need a hearing test which may be performed on the day or arranged at a later date. A referral to an Ear, Nose and Throat doctor may be offered depending on your symptoms.

Balance Testing

You have been referred to the Audiology department for a balance assessment. The aim of this appointment is to investigate the possible cause of your dizziness and/or balance problems.

How does my balance system work?

We rely on our balance system to carry out every day activities such as getting out of bed, walking or picking up objects from the floor.

The brain uses information from 3 main inputs to help keep your balance:

  1. Your eyes tell your brain what position you are in and how you are moving.
  2. Your feet and joints tell your brain how your legs, arms and trunk are positioned in relation to each other.
  3. Your inner ears contain balance organs that give your brain information about the movement and position of your head and body.

If something happens to one of these three inputs, symptoms of dizziness and imbalance can occur. The balance testing aims to assess these inputs.

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How do I contact the team?

Most of our patients are referred after being seen by an Ear, Nose and Throat doctor or a Neurologist. If you need to speak to one of the team about your referral or appointment we have several different ways you can get in touch:

What to expect at your appointment

Your first appointment will generally be a telephone consultation to talk through your symptoms, the impact on your life and history. We will then arrange a face-to-face appointment for you to come in for the testing; the length of this appointment will vary depending on which tests are required. We will explain each of the tests we want to perform and will give an overview of the results at the end of the appointment along with a treatment plan. To help the appointment run smoothly please follow these steps:

  1. Ensure that your ears are free of wax; this can be checked by your GP or surgery nurse.
  2. Do not take any dizziness medication or drink alcohol for 48 hours before your appointment. Please take all other medications as normal.
  3. Do not wear any eye makeup including eyeshadow, mascara or eyeliner.
  4. Only have a light breakfast if your appointment is in the morning or a light lunch if your appointment is in the afternoon. Please bring a bottled drink for refreshment.
  5. Bring a list of any current medication.