Information for parents and carers
Download leaflet
Children's Audiology Department – PIAG 410 (266kB)
About us
We are a Peadiatric audiology department with an audio vestibular medicine service. We are committed to providing the highest standard of care to our patients aged 0-19 years of age.
Our team is made up of:
- 2 audio vestibular consultants, 17 audiologists, 3 audiometrician’s and 1 audiology nurse specialist
We run clinics in Alder Hey, Garston, Southport, May Logan, and Yew Tree.
If you have hearing concerns for your child, you will need to obtain a referral into audiology from your GP or other healthcare practitioner.
Our services
Hearing assessments for children aged 0 to 18 years
We assess hearing in various ways depending on the development and age of the child.
Hearing aid fitting and servicing
We provide and fit different types of hearing aids specifically to meet the needs of the child. When something goes wrong with the hearing aids, we will take care of it.
Vestibular assessment and management
Our audio vestibular consultants assess and manage certain types of vestibular symptoms and disorders.
Our commitment
To you…
- Provide services that meets each patient’s individual needs
- Ensure our patients feel confident and happy with their hearing aids
- Offer help whenever there are problems relating to the hearing loss or hearing aids
- Provide a service that works in partnership with health, education, social and voluntary services with you and your child at the centre
Your commitment to us…
- Make every effort to attend your appointments and be punctual
- Inform us as soon as you know that you will be unable to attend an appointment
- Respect our staff
Hearing aid repairs/Earmould service
By appointment only
Please phone as soon as you notice any problem with the hearing aid(s) and we will make every effort to arrange the earliest available appointment at your convenience.
Tel: 0151 252 5933
Email: [email protected]
If we are unable to answer the phone, please leave a message on the answerphone.
Hearing Aid Supplies
Batteries, tubing, drying capsules and other supplies can be given without an appointment if you call in or phone the department and request them to be posted home to you.
We will make every effort to be as quick as possible in assisting with your repair/supplies etc.
Local contacts
Hearing support services
Liverpool
0151 233 5970
[email protected]
Sefton
West Lancashire
[email protected]
[email protected]
Merseyside Society for Deaf People
Tel: 0151 228 0888
Email: [email protected]
Liverpool Deaf Children’s Society
Tel: 0151 280 7204
Email: [email protected]
Useful websites
Deaf Active Liverpool – www.deafactive.org
National Deaf Children’s Society – www.ndcs.org.uk
British Deaf association – www.britishdeafassociation.org.uk
British Tinnitus Association – www.tinnitus.org.uk
Merseyside Society for Deaf People – www.msdp.org.uk
Communication skills
Good communication and listening skills are important for everyone even with normal hearing but extra important for those with a hearing impairment. Here are some tips.
- Make sure you can see people’s faces clearly
- Minimise background noise
- One person speaks at a time
- Speak up, but do not shout
- Slow down speech
- Tell the speaker you have difficulty hearing
- Repeat, rephrase, or write it down
- Use hand gestures and facial expressions
Noise sensitivity
What is it?
It is not uncommon for children to be sensitive to sounds. It can affect people of all ages, including adults, but it is most common in young children under the age of six.
The child may shy away from or become uncomfortable when confronted with loud noises.
How to help:
- Provide reassurance
- Take control; explain the sounds to your child
- Behavioural desensitisation: help break down the association between the noise and fear
Softening ear wax
Wax in the ear is natural and should never be removed by anyone other than a trained health care professional.
Never put anything into your child’s ears.
Warning
Cotton buds must NOT be used!
Olive oil drops can be used to help soften any ear wax.
You will need to have some ordinary olive oil (at room temperature, do not heat up) and a teaspoon or a dropper.
Once a day, for two weeks, insert 2-3 drops of olive oil into the ear/s which needs to have the wax removed.
Contact
Address: Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Eaton Prescot Rd., Liverpool L14 5AB
Phone: 0151 252 5943 or 0151 228 4811
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @AHAudiology
This leaflet only gives general information. You must always discuss the individual treatment of your child with the appropriate member of staff. Do not rely on this leaflet alone for information about your child’s treatment.
This information can be made available in other languages and formats if requested.
Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
PIAG: 410