With over 15 years clinical experience and qualified to masters level in paediatric assessment and habilitation, we can guarantee a professional, timely service is delivered from your initial enquiry throughout your audiology journey. We will ensure that both you and your child are put at the centre of the decision making process, and are provided with all necessary information to make an informed choice, where further management is clinically indicated.
Paediatric hearing assessments from £150
All appointments include: history, ear examination and tympanometry (a diagnostic test used to evaluate the functioning of the middle ear). Hearing Testing is performed based on the age and development of the child:
Objective hearing assessments measure how well the ear, and hearing nerve between the ear and brain are working. They don’t require a child to show that they have heard the sound.
Behavioural hearing assessments involve the audiologist recording a child’s response to sound. This might be a startle, look or head turn in a baby, or an older child moving a toy or performing a task when they hear a sound as part of a game.
Otoscopy – the use of a magnified light to check the outer ear, ear canal and eardrum.
Tympanometry – Tympanometry is not a test of hearing; it is used to check how well the moving parts of the middle ear are working. A small soft ear piece is placed gently in the ear. A pump causes the pressure of the air in the ear canal to change. The eardrum should move freely in and out with the change in pressure. If the eardrum is not moving freely, there may be some build-up of fluid behind the eardrum in the middle ear (often referred to as glue ear also known as otitis media with effusion – OME). Glue ear can cause temporary conductive deafness, but it does not always cause hearing loss.
Visual Response or Reinforcement Audiometry (VRA) – This is a behavioural test which can be used from a developmental age of 6 months, when a child has sufficient head control to sit supported on a lap. Using a machine called an audiometer, sounds of different frequencies (pitches) and loudness are played through speakers. When a child hears the sound, they will turn their head to see a visual ‘reward’, such as a puppet in a box or a video on a screen. The test can check the full range of hearing, but when using speakers, the ‘sound field’, does not give specific information about each ear. To check each ear individually small earphones maybe used.
Play Audiometry - This is a behavioural test which can be used from a developmental age of around 3 years, when a child has sufficient understanding to wait for a sound and perform a task to indicate that they have heard it. Children are shown how to respond each time they hear a sound at the beginning of the test. The sounds come through headphones, earphones or sometimes through a speaker.
Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA) - Children are asked to respond to sounds by pressing a button. The sounds come through headphones, earphones or sometimes through a speaker.
OtoAcoustic Emissions (OAEs) – OAEs are low-level sounds emitted by the outer hair cells of the cochlea (sound sensitive cells in the hearing organ) when stimulated with sound. This is not a direct test of hearing but an indication of the function of the hearing organ.
A small soft-tipped ear piece, containing a speaker and a microphone, is placed in the ear canal. A gentle clicking sound is played and if the cochlea is working properly the microphone in the ear piece will pick up the response. This test can be done while a child is sitting quietly or whilst sleeping and doesn’t require any active co-operation.
Microsuction/irrigation - £65
Removing earwax in children should not be undertaken routinely. They have very small delicate ear canals and earwax is there to protect the ear. Removing ear wax can cause irritation.
If earwax is causing discomfort or hearing issues then wax removal can be considered.
We will perform wax removal on children 3 years and above, however they must be willing to sit still. Microsuction is an invasive procedure where a suction tube is placed in the child’s ear canal and as such, it would be dangerous to perform this procedure on a child who is moving about or is distressed.
Parents are advised to use almond/olive oil drops for 3 days prior to consultation to aid with wax removal.
Paediatric hearing aids are specialised devices designed to help children with hearing loss. These aids amplify sounds to enable clearer hearing, improve communication, and foster language development. Choosing and fitting the right hearing aid for a child involves unique considerations such as the child's age, the severity of hearing loss, and their growth patterns.
We offer a range of rechargeable digital hearing aids from all major suppliers, tailored to your individual needs and to suit all budgets. This includes a variety of colour options and character moulds. All hearing aids are verified using the latest techniques, including real ear measurement and speech mapping.
Prices include:
Hearing therapy - £200
Paediatric tinnitus refers to the perception of sound (such as ringing, buzzing, or hissing) in the absence of an external noise source in children. It can affect one or both ears, or be perceived as coming from inside the head.
Sound sensitivity in children, also known as hyperacusis, refers to an abnormal sensitivity or heightened reaction to everyday sounds, that most people would consider normal or tolerable. It can cause significant distress or discomfort for affected children and might interfere with daily activities, social interactions, and learning.
Auditory processing disorder is a condition where the brain has difficulty interpreting or processing sounds, even though the ears themselves are functioning normally. Children with APD may have normal hearing tests but struggle with understanding and making sense of the sounds they hear, particularly in noisy environments.
We offer a range of management strategies tailored to the individual needs of the child, including sound enrichment, sleep hygiene, desensitisation techniques and auditory training.
Appointment includes: