Children's Audiology (Hearing) Service

• VRA (Visual Reinforcement Audiometry) from around 6 months - 30 months of age.
  Sounds of different frequencies and levels are played through speakers or earphones. A visual reward encourages the child to turn their head every time they hear a sound.
• Play Audiometry - from around 3 years of age.
  This technique relies on conditioning (teaching) your child to complete an action in response to hearing a sound. The Audiologist will play a game, initially presenting a sound and guiding/asking your child to place a peg on a board or a similar action. It can be useful if you are able to prepare your child for this by playing ’ready, steady, go’ games at home prior to the appointment. This could be throwing a ball into a bucket when you say ‘go’, for example. It would also be helpful if you can introduce your child to wearing headphones, but this is not essential.
• Pure Tone Audiometry - from 5 years onwards.
  Your child will be asked to press a button in response to a sound and to listen for the quietest sounds they can hear.
• Tympanometry.
  A small probe is placed in the ear to give us information about movement of the ear drum and the status of the middle ear. It is a test often used to help diagnose a common condition in young children called glue ear.
• OAE (Otoacoustic Emissions)
  A probe in the ear measures responses from the inner part of the ear (cochlea) in response to a sound. This can be affected by wax or middle ear dysfunction. It does require the child to be asleep or very still and quiet.
• ABR (Auditory Brainstem Response) Sensors are placed on your child’s head to measure the brain’s response to different frequencies. This test is performed primarily on newborn babies as it requires the child to be asleep. For some babies/young children, one of our doctors may speak to you about using Melatonin to help your child to sleep in order for the testing to be completed.

• What to expect at your child's audiology appointment at Edgware Hospital.
• What to expect at your child's audiology appointment at Oak Lane.
• What to expect at your child's audiology appointment at St Michael's Primary Care Centre.
• If your baby has been referred to Audiology from the Newborn Hearing Screening programme, click here to download our 'Your baby's visit to the Audiology clinic' leaflet.  

• Whittington Health leaflet: Recommendations for maximising a child’s listening skills
• Hear Glue Ear app We recommend the free Hear Glue Ear app, which is useful in helping you manage glue ear. It includes audiobooks, songs and listening games and gives accurate, up-to-date Glue Ear information and supports learning and development in children to help them avoid developmental delays.

Useful links

• National Deaf Children’s Society
• NDCS Buzz – aimed at children and teenagers
• North London Deaf Children’s Society
• Connevans
• C2Hear
• Haringey's Local Offer | Haringey Council
   
  

Where we see patients

Camden, Islington and Haringey

• Clinic Reception Audiological Medicine - 020 3224 4698
  Paediatric Audiology Secretary - 020 3224 4626  /  020 3224 4689 and 020 3224 4675

Barnet and Enfield Paediatric Audiology

• 020 3316 8080
• For referrals, correspondence and queries: paediatric.audiology@nhs.net

Enfield School Screening Service

• 020 3316 8074
• enfield.audiology@nhs.net