Adult hearing services

About us

The aim of the adult hearing service is to provide assessment and rehabilitation support for adults experiencing challenges related to their hearing.

How we help 

Our team of audiologists provide the following services:

• hearing assessments, including approaches tailored for people with learning disabilities or dementia
• advice about how to manage your hearing and tinnitus, and onward referral to our hearing therapy service for more help with this if required
• fitting and adjustment of a wide variety of advanced digital hearing aids
• comprehensive aftercare including follow ups and hearing aid repairs
• home visits for the housebound. This includes hearing assessments, fitting & adjustment of hearing aids and aftercare. This service is only available at GP request.

If you have a severe / profound hearing loss we provide a dedicated service. You will meet audiologists with specialist knowledge.

Getting ready for your appointment

Wax check

It is important that your ears are clear of wax when you come for your appointment. Wax may:

• prevent us from performing your hearing assessment
• prevent us from fitting a hearing aid
• cause whistling if we fit a hearing aid

If you are prone to wax build up, please visit your GP or practice nurse to check your ears for wax, before you attend your appointment.

What to bring

Please bring your hearing aids, ear moulds and any documentation  you may have from previous appointments.

If you wear glasses please bring these with you to your appointment.

We would encourage you to bring a family member or friend with you to your appointment. There may be some detailed information that you would like to discuss further after your appointment. It will provide an opportunity for your companion to find out more about the difficulties of your hearing.

Interpreters

If you need an interpreter for any language including British Sign Language, please contact our department as soon as possible so we can arrange this.

Hospital transport

If you need hospital transport you can arrange this through your GP.

What happens at your appointment

Consultations usually last around 30 to 60 minutes. We will ask you about your ears and any difficulties you may be having with your hearing.

We will look in your ears to check they are healthy and complete a hearing test. This usually involves wearing a pair of headphones and pressing a button whenever you hear a beep.

After discussing the results of your hearing test, we will explain your options. Together we will agree on a plan to help with any hearing difficulties you may be experiencing.

This plan may include:

• advice on listening tactics
• fitting of one or two hearing aids
• information on assistive listening devices, for example equipment to help you hear the TV or phone
• referral to other specialists such as an ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor or tinnitus specialist.

If you choose to try a hearing aid we may be able to fit your hearing aids on the same day or you may need a further appointment to do this.

Where we are

Our adult audiology services in Brighton are available across the following sites:

• Royal Sussex County Hospital, at Louisa Martindale Building on Eastern Road BN2 5BE and Sussex House on Abbey Road BN2 1ES
• Princess Royal Hospital
• Lewes Victoria Hospital – bus routes 28, 29, 29X; moderate car parking availability.
• County Oak Medical Centre – bus routes 24, 26, 46, 56; car parking available.
• Mile Oak Medical Centre – bus routes 1, 1A; on-street parking.

How to refer

We see adults aged 40 and over, following a GP or ENT referral. We do not accept referrals for people over 55 with age related deafness.  Ask your GP for further advice.

Helpful resources

• Hearing aid users information booklet
• C2Hear video has useful information on hearing aids.
• Action on Hearing Loss is the new name of RNID, the largest charity representing the 11 million people confronting deafness and hearing loss in the UK.
• Connevans manufacture and supply a range of equipment and aids for the hearing impaired. Website includes on-line catalogue. product information and user advice.
• Hearing Link is a leading UK charity for people with hearing loss, their families and friends.