Types of hearing loss
About hearing loss
Hearing loss is common and can occur at any age. Depending on the underlying cause it can be temporary or permanent; of sudden onset or slowly progressive. The most common causes of hearing loss are ageing and exposure to excessive noise. Other causes include a wide variety of genetic, systemic and infective conditions and exposure to ototoxins. Over 11 million people in the UK have a hearing loss.
What to do if you have hearing concerns
If you have concerns about your hearing and feel you would benefit from a hearing assessment, there are a number of ways you can access the service. We provide a Direct Access Hearing Aid Clinic for anyone aged 18 years and over. Please see your GP in the first instance – they can refer you directly into this clinic at a number of our centres.
Please note: if you are prone to any other ear-related issues, such as a build-up of wax, ear infections, ear pain, dizziness or imbalance, troublesome tinnitus, or if you feel one ear hears better than the other, please ask your GP to refer you to the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) department in the first instance, for these concerns to be investigated. If you are already an existing patient within our audiology department, please contact us for further advice.
About your appointment and assessment
Prior to your appointment, ensure that your GP has checked that your ears are free from wax, as it may not be possible to complete the appointment if you have a significant amount of wax in your ears.
During the assessment, one of our skilled and experienced audiologists will discuss your medical history, any concerns you may be having with regards to your hearing and then they will assess your hearing. The results of the assessment will be explained along with any concerns they may have identified. If appropriate, the audiologist may discuss the potential choice of a hearing aid. In some cases, the audiologist may feel a referral to an ENT consultant may be necessary to provide a more in-depth opinion.
