One of the Audiology staff adjusting earmoulds
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The Audiology Department at Addenbrooke's provides a
full hearing aid service, from the initial assessment of
hearing status to the fitting and follow-up care of the
patient and their hearing aid.
What sort of aids are provided?
The Department provides mostly 'behind the ear' hearing
aids, although 'in the ear' hearing aids can be provided
if there is a medical reason to do so.
Where are the services provided?
The Department works mainly from Addenbrooke’s Hospital.
Peripheral clinics are also held at Newmarket Community
Hospital, Saffron Walden Community Hospital and the Princess
of Wales Hospital, Ely. All enquiries or requests to be
seen at a peripheral clinic should be made to Addenbrooke’s
Hospital.
A limited domiciliary visit service is also available, whereby patients who are totally housebound may be eligible to be visited at home or in their nursing home for their hearing aid appointments. Please contact Audiology reception in the first instance with any enquiries regarding this service.
How can I get a hearing aid?
If you would like to be assessed for a hearing aid and
do not already have one, visit your general practitioner
(GP) who can refer you by one of two routes:
(a) Direct referral to Audiology: for patients
who fulfil specific criteria. In Audiology, they will
have their hearing tested and a hearing aid can be provided
if it is appropriate.
(b) Referral to Audiology via the Ear, Nose and
Throat (ENT) Department: for patients who do not
fulfill the criteria for direct referral to Audiology.
Their GP will need to refer them to the ENT clinic
for a medical opinion before they can be assessed for
a hearing aid. The ENT clinic will then refer the patient
to the Audiology Department.
What can I do if I have lost my hearing aid, it is loose
or I have other problems with it?
If patients of Audiology at Addenbrooke's have:
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Lost a hearing aid;
-
The hearing aid is loose (eg a new earmould is required);
-
They think their hearing might have further deteriorated;
-
They have other problems with the aid.
they should contact the Audiology Department directly
by telephone or letter and a reassessment appointment can
be made if appropriate.
You might be able to resolve simple problems with your hearing aid yourself by referring to the advice contained in the patient information leaflet - Hearing aids problem solving leaflet
What can I do if my hearing aid needs repairing or I
need to exchange batteries?
Batteries can be exchanged by post or at anytime in the
department. If the patient has a hearing aid that needs
repairing, the patient can:
(i) send the hearing aid in by post - including the patient's
hearing aid record book and a note to say what is wrong
(ii) Attend one of the open access repair sessions at
Addenbrooke's (you do not need to make an appointment).
When are the open access hearing aid repair sessions
at Addenbrooke's?
-
Monday mornings: 0930 to 1200
-
Tuesday afternoons: 1400 to 1630
-
Wednesday mornings: 0900 to 1200
-
Thursday afternoons: 1400 to 1630
-
Friday mornings: 0900 to 1200
Can I exchange hearing aid batteries or have earmould
retubes done closer to home?
Yes. Hearing help sessions are run in the community
by volunteers from local charities. These sessions are
often closer to your home or easier to access than Addenbrooke's.
At these sessions the volunteers are able to exchange hearing
aid batteries and retube earmoulds, but the are unable
to repair faulty hearing aids. If you think you have a
faulty hearing aid or your problem is more complex than
a battery exchange or earmould retube then either please
visit the open access repair sessions at Addenbrooke's,
use the postal repair service or contact the Audiology
reception at Addenbrooke's for further advice (as outlined
above).
To download a map of Hearing help session locations click
here
Details of the dates and times of the hearing help sessions
are available from the Audiology Department at Addenbrooke's
or from the charities who run the sessions below:
CamTAD (CAMpaign
for Tackling Acquired Deafness) hearing help sessions
Haverhill ADAPT (A Deaf & Partially Hearing Support
Service) hearing help sessions -
Advice centre every Wednesday morning between 10.30am-12.30pm
at Haverhill Health Clinic. Includes NHS hearing aid
maintenance & battery issue.. Haverhill Health Clinic,
Camps Road, Haverhill . Tel: 01440 763272
Hertfordshire
Hearing Advisory Service hearing help sessions
Uttlesford Hearing Help sessions. Telephone on 01799 599790 for
further information
Gt Dunmow, The Surgery, last Friday every month
Saffron Walden, Day Centre, 1st Saturday every month
9:45-11:30am
Stansted, Day Centre, last Tuesday every month
Thaxted, The Surgery Margaret St; last Thursday every
month
Can I arrange for a private hearing aid via Addenbrooke's?
The Audiology Department also provides a Private Hearing
Aid service for people who wish to purchase a private hearing
aid.
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