Paediatric Audiology Services

The paediatric audiology service aims to be family friendly and family centred. Parents must be fully involved in the diagnosis where possible, and services need to be flexible and available at times that suit families. If interpreters are required, we will endeavour to provide them at every appointment. All facilities are accessible to wheelchair users and services adapted to the need of those with other disabilities as required.

Appointments will always be led by an appropriate qualified and trained Audiological professional.

We will always try to provide a clear set outcome from the results recorded during the appointment. This will be clearly communicated to the parent or carer and in the management plans. Priority is determined by clinical need and the availability of facilities.

The paediatric Audiology team work closely with colleagues in Newborn Hearing Screening, Education, Speech and Language Therapy (SLT), Community Paediatrics and the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) teams, aiming to provide a seamless, collaborative approach to avoid unnecessary duplication and / or inappropriate follow–up.

The Newborn Hearing Screening Programme

The Newborn Hearing Screening test helps to identify babies who have permanent hearing loss as early as possible. This means parents can get the support and advice they need right from the start.

The hearing screening test is offered to all new parents and is usually carried out in hospital by qualified hearing screeners before you are discharged.

Sometimes, it is not possible to get a clear response from the screening tests. Therefore, an outpatient appointment will be arranged to carry out additional tests as required.

You can read more about the screening test on the NHS Website.

The Hearing Check

Your child can be referred for a hearing check by your GP, the Health Visiting team, School Nurse team, Community Paediatrician team, Speech and Language Therapist or any other health professional that may have concerns. You can also self-refer your child for a hearing check.

Children’s hearing checks are available at these various locations in Shropshire:

Church Stretton Health And Wellbeing Centre, Easthope Road , Church Stretton, Shropshire, SY6 6BL
Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, Mytton Oak Road, Shrewsbury, SY3 8XQ
Shropshire Women’s and Childrens unit, Princess Royal Hospital, Apley Castle, Telford, TF1 6TF
The Stepping Stones Centre, Brunel Road, Telford, TF3 2BF
Market Drayton Medical Practice, Maer Lane, Market Drayton, TF9 3AL
Oswestry Health Centre, Thomas Savin Road, Oswestry, SY11 1GA

What happens during your visit

We will discuss the reasons why the child has been referred for a hearing test and if there are any concerns about their hearing.
Discuss your child’s medical history
Have a look in your child’s ears and carry out a hearing test.
Discuss the results and make any necessary arrangements for further testing

The appointment lasts about 30 minutes. We will talk to you about any worries or concerns you have about your child’s hearing and development. One or two members of the Audiology team will check your baby’s / child’s hearing.

We will look in your child’s ears and carry out the relevant hearing checks.

How do we check hearing?

The way we test your child’s hearing will depend on their age and development. We try to make the hearing check as much fun as possible.

Oto-acoustic Emissions – A special machine can test the responses of the tiny little hair cells in the nerve of the inner ear. This test is usually completed at birth but can be repeated if the baby or child finds the hearing check difficult to complete.

Behavioural testing – These are designed for infants and children from 6 months to 4 years old. This hearing check is based on ‘play’ techniques. We use headphones or ear probes to gain information from each ear. Sounds may also come from a speaker in the room, so it is important that the parent / guardian / carer do not give the child any clues during the appointment. There needs to be as few distractions as possible, so we usually ask for only one parent / guardian to be in the room at a time. Please arrange for any other siblings to be looked after by another adult while the appointment takes place.

The team is trained to use a range of techniques to obtain the results to suit everyone’s age, development, cooperation, and personal needs.

There may be times when staff may have to use forms of restrictive physical intervention in the best interest of the child (for example to look in the ear, to hold a child’s hand when conditioning to a test). Consent is required either from the patient, parent or carer for each procedure to be carried out. If consent is not provided or a procedure causes distress, we will attempt to make alternative arrangements with the best interest of the patient.

When will I get the results?

We usually have an idea of how your child is hearing on the day. We may need to review your child and a further appointment will be arranged. We will advise you if there is any further management needed. A copy of the results will be posted out to you and back to the referrer.

Please contact The Stepping Stones Centre on 01952 385015 to book an appointment for your child.

Hearing Aid Evaluations/Fittings

These appointments are for new or existing hearing aid users. Your Audiologist will be able to advise you how often you should have a hearing aid evaluation.

During an appointment

These appointments are for new or existing hearing aid users. Your Audiologist will be able to advise you how often you should have a hearing aid evaluation.

During an appointment

We will discuss your child’s medical history
Have a look in your child’s ears and carry out a hearing test.
Check the hearing aids are fitted comfortably.
Check the hearing aids are adjusted to appropriate level of hearing loss.
Discuss the results and make any necessary referrals to any other professionals if needed (ENT / Speech and Language Therapist / Teacher of the Deaf

Hearing aid assessments usually last 1 hour 30 minutes and are carried out at the following venues:

Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, Mytton Oak Road, Shrewsbury, SY3 8XQ
Women’s and Children’s Centre, Princess Royal Hospital, Apley Castle, Telford, TF1 6TF
The Stepping Stones Centre, Malinslee, Telford, TF3 2BF

To book an appointment please contact NHS Shropshire Audiology:

Royal Shrewsbury Hospital – 01743 261 482

Princess Royal Hospital – 01925 282 804

Transition Audiology

From around the age of 15, most young people have their Audiology review appointments in the ‘Transition Clinic’. The aim of the clinic is to prepare young adults for the move from paediatric to adult audiology services, which includes support through further education and/or employment. The final transfer to the adult audiology services will not take place until the person is ready, usually once they have started further education or full time employment.

What to expect at your transition appointment?

During your appointment you can expect,

A hearing assessment and check of your hearing aid(s).
To meet your Transition Hearing Therapist/Audiologist.
To be supported by other professionals, including your Teacher of the Deaf from the Sensory Inclusion Service.
Information you need about further education and employment.
To develop awareness of services available before, during and after their transition (e.g. Access to Work, Disability Living Allowance).
To develop knowledge of Assistive Listening Devices and how to use them with their hearing aid(s).

How to make an appointment?

Approximately 12 months after the transition appointment you will be given the opportunity to have a further review appointment. New moulds, repairs, tubing can also be requested at any time by contacting the Audiology department.

Hearing therapy appointments are available if you need further support or advice on,