Audiology - Hearing & Balance Service
Contact number: 01772 522751
Our Audiology Service provides:
Hearing Services
- A hearing assessment within two to three weeks of a referral from your GP
- Digital hearing aid fitting
- Regular supply of batteries for our patients
- Servicing and advice for our patients
- Reassessment every three years
- Specialist hearing aids and hearing therapy
Vestibular (Balance) Services
- Specialised vestibular assessments
Tinnitus Services
- Tinnitus assessment clinics providing full assessment in addition to counselling information and support
Why choose us?
- We have more than 30 years’ experience
- Our service is completely free – we provide objective medical advice, no salespeople, or pressure to buy anything
If you are struggling with your hearing or balance, ask your GP for a referral direct to the Audiology Department at Royal Preston or Chorley and South Ribble Hospital.
- Meet the Team
Chris Brockbank
Clinical and Professional Lead
Adult Audiology
Julia Collins
Team Leader
Adult Audiology
Neil Summerfield
Lead for Audiology Rehabilitation
Advanced Clinical Practitioner
Emily Halliwell
Highly Specialist Practitioner
Clinical Scientist (Audiology)
Caroline SharrockChristine Nickson
Highly Specialist Practitioner
Hearing and Balance Therapy
Julie Bassett
Julie Bath
Jane Brady
Suzanne Wilding
Sahjida Suleman-Mulla
Aliya Mamsa
Claire Thorpe
Fahmida Member
- Hearing Services
Hearing Rehabilitation (including referral to community support services if indicated)
- Air-conduction hearing aid fitting and counselling
- Bone anchored hearing aid fitting and counselling
- Hearing Aid Advice and Servicing (patient self-management and appointments available)
- Drop-off and Collect service for hearing aid repairs
- Battery replacement and Accessories
- Domiciliary Visits (Hearing-Aid Assessments and Provision)
- Hearing therapy
Hearing Aids (Adults)
If you feel you may need a hearing aid, the first step is to visit your GP who can refer you in to see us at either Royal Preston Hospital or Chorley and South Ribble Hospital. We will test your hearing and if necessary we will issue you with one or two hearing aids either on the day or at a further appointment. There are different types of hearing aids depending on the level of your hearing loss, but all of the hearing aids we issue are digital and fit ‘behind the ear’ (BTE)
Repair Clinic
We will no longer be offering a drop-in service for hearing aid users, but we will still be offering servicing and repairs by appointment only this is to maintain the safety of our patients and staff going forwards.
Appointments can be made by phone and will usually be available on the same day. You should be able to go straight into your appointment without sitting in a busy waiting room and you will have longer to discuss your needs with an Audiologist.Batteries
If you were issued with hearing aids by us, simply call on 01772 522751 and we can send a supply of batteries by post
Battery safety alert information
Due to recent safety concerns - remember to keep your hearing aid batteries out of sight and out of reach of children and pets to prevent them being swallowed. This could be in a raised cabinet, or a cupboard locked with a key or child-locking mechanism. If you drop a battery then pick it up straight away. It’s important to consider that curious pets such as dogs have also been known to swallow hearing aid batteries.
If you or anyone in your household has swallowed a hearing aid battery, seek immediate medical attention. If your pet has swallowed a hearing aid battery it’s advised that you seek veterinary attention as soon as possible. When changing out hearing aid batteries avoid placing the battery in your mouth or holding it between your lips. This can contaminate the battery, or more seriously lead to accidental ingestion. When the batteries run out, keep them somewhere secure and safe until such a time that you can take them to a place for safe disposal via recycling.Hearing Aid Support
- Oticon ON App
- Brainhearing A5 Leaflet
- How to remove hearing aid with ear mould
- How to place a hearing aid with dome on the ear
- How to remove a hearing aid with dome from the ear
- How to change the battery in an Oticon hearing aid
- Hearing Aid Troubleshooting Guide
Communication Information
Testing Information
Additional Links and Charities
- National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS) http://www.ndcs.org.uk
- RNID https://rnid.org.uk
- Hearing Link http://www.hearinglink.org
- Deaf and Blind UK https://deafblind.org.uk
- Connevans (Suppler of additional supportive equipment) https://www.connevans.co.uk
- Hearing Dogs https://www.hearingdogs.org.uk
- Meniere’s Society https://www.menieres.org.uk
- Lancashire Fire Service https://www.lancsfirerescue.org.uk/safety/safety-advice/hard-of-hearing
- Access to work government support https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work
- Local Preston based charity https://deafway.org.uk
- Access to social services https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/living-with-a-disability/living-with-sensory-loss
- British Deaf Association https://bda.org.uk
- British Sign Language https://www.british-sign.co.uk
- Vestibular (Balance) Services
We offer a direct access Balance clinic which your GP will be able to arrange a referral to.
Vestibular Assessments
(including arranging MRI scan if indicated / including referral to ENT if indicated)
Routine vestibular assessments
- BPPV
- Peripheral vestibular weaknesses
Specialised vestibular assessments
- Fluctuating vestibular weaknesses
- Central vestibular assessment
- Tinnitus Services
GP direct referral tinnitus services
- Tinnitus and hearing loss severity assessment (including arranging MRI scan if indicated)
- Tinnitus therapy
- Tinnitus devices
- Tinnitus information resources
Useful Links:
British Tinnitus Association (BTA) http://www.tinnitus.org.uk - Newborn Hearing Screening
Contact
Newborn hearing screeners: 01772 524128Useful Links
Newborn hearing screening: your baby’s visit to the audiology clinic - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/newborn-screening/hearing-test
- Dementia
Useful Links: Dementia and hearing loss
https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/symptoms-and-diagnosis/sight-hearing-loss
https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/blog/how-does-your-hearing-affect-dementia-risk
https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-support/care-and-independent-living/support-for-carers/admiral-nurses
https://www.dementiauk.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/tips-for-communication4.pdf
- Learning Disability
Information on Hearing Loss in patients with Learning Disabilities
It is very common to have a hearing loss in people with a learning disability; often as many as 4 in 10 people have some hearing loss. If a hearing loss is not identified and treated, it can make worse the effects of the learning disability.
You may not be aware of any change in your hearing but should you or your family/carer/support worker notice any possible problems with your hearing, a referral to Audiology may be appropriate.Accessibility
Please take a look at the information below to help you understand more about Audiology.
Who patients will see
When invited to an Audiology appointment you will be greeted by a receptionist and you will then meet an Audiologist or an Assistant Audiologist. We are happy for family members/carers/support workers to attend the appointment. We try to ensure the patients is seen by the same Audiologist at each visit. All procedures will be fully explained and consent to treatment will be requested. We offer a flexible approach to assessing hearing levels and difficulties ranging from standard pure tone audiometry to play audiometry. Please see information in the hearing aid/communication book link above which displays all the different procedures in picture format.
Hearing Aids
Hearing aids are a great way to help people with permanent hearing problems to hear better. Hearing aids are fitted according to the individuals hearing levels and needs.
Your feedback about the service
We ask for feedback from patients in relation to our service and use the comments to help improve our service for patients with learning disabilities. A short feedback form will be emailed to you and we encourage you to complete it. A family member/carer/ support worker could help you complete it.
Hospital Passport
Your hospital passport should be taken to all of your health appointments. This is a great booklet that helps others to get to know you quickly and is especially helpful if you cannot communicate or describe how you feel. It will tell people what you like and what you do not like. Always have one ready and filled in should you need to take it somewhere.
If you are admitted to hospital the staff should ask to see your care passport. It is your booklet for you to keep safe.
If you are going into hospital and need extra help, please contact PALS- By email: PALS@lthtr.nhs.uk
- By phone 07591 988 962
- Transition services
Audiology transition is when a young person with a hearing loss has their Audiology and Hearing Aid care transferred from the Paediatric audiology Service to the Adult Audiology Service.
The transition process has 3 steps:
1. Identification
Young adults will be identified when they are due to transition to the Adult Audiology Team when they are at the end of the academic year in college. This will be when the young person is 17 or 18 years old (or 19 years for young adults who attend a special educational needs school)
2. Pre transition joint review appointment
This will be similar to your normal hearing aid review in the Paediatric Audiology Service but there will also be an Audiologist from the Adult Audiology Team in attendance. Your hearing and hearing aids will be checked as usual. The Audiologist from the Adult Team will tell you about the Adult Audiology Department and will try to answer any questions you have. This will probably be your last appointment with the Paediatric Audiology Service.
3. Final transition joint review appointment
You will be invited to a hearing aid review in the Adult Audiology Service where a member of the Paediatric Audiology Team will also be in attendance. This appointment is to transfer your care from the Paediatric Audiology Team to the Adult Audiology Team. At this appointment your hearing will be checked, and you will have the option to transfer to new hearing aids if appropriate.
The main difference between the services is that in the adult service you will not receive routine appointments for hearing aid reviews. If you are having any problems with your hearing aid, you will need to contact the department to book a repair appointment at Royal Preston Hospital or Chorley and South Ribble District Hospital. Alternatively, you can post the hearing aids into the department for repair.
Please see link below to the Adult Audiology Transition leaflet for more information and contact details.
Links
- Contact
Service Manager: Chris Brockbank, Clinical and Professional Lead - Adult Audiology
Team Leader: Julia Collins - Adult Audiology
Phone: 01772 522751
Email: hearing.balance@lthtr.nhs.uk
Postal Address: Hearing & Balance Service, Royal Preston Hospital, Sharoe Green Lane, Fulwood, Preston. PR2 9HT
How to find us
Preston:
At Royal Preston Hospital we are located at the side of the hospital,
void the main hospital entrance and follow the road to the left until you reach the ‘Audiology & ENT Suite’.If you are coming by car, aim for car park G
If you are coming by bus, ask for St.Clare’s Church
Chorley:
At Chorley & South Ribble Hospital we are located within Outpatients Department
