Being referred to audiology

Children will be referred to audiology for the following reasons:

• Hearing concerns such as mishearing speech/instructions or favouring devices like tablets or TV to be louder
• As a follow up to the newborn hearing screening program
• As a follow up to the school entry hearing screening program
• Request from other health professionals like speech therapists or paediatricians
• As routine monitoring due to having a linked medical condition such as a syndrome associated with hearing loss
• As routine monitoring following specific medication or medical diagnosis.

If you have any concerns regarding your child’s hearing and wish for them to have a hearing test, we accept referrals at any time from:

• Your GP

• Health visitor

• Speech therapist or paediatrician

• Self-referrals from parents/guardians

We are unable to accept referrals from education at this point in time.

When will my child’s hearing be tested?

All babies born in England are offered a newborn hearing screen which can detect hearing problems. This is usually completed shortly after birth by the newborn hearing screening team. The result of this will be in your early years record book.

In the Hartlepool area, the next hearing screen is offered in your child’s first year of school, this is carried out by trained hearing screeners who will go into the school to do this. It should be noted that school age hearing screening is currently not completed in the East Durham, Stockton and Billingham localities.