Before your appointment
Please check your appointment letter carefully so that you are aware of the date and time, do also make note of your appointment location as not all appointments are made at one site. If you are unsure about anything regarding your appointment please contact the East Kent Children’s Hearing Service administration team by one of the following methods:
Telephone: 01227 864131
Text: 07881940689
Email: ekh-tr.eastkentchildrenshearingservice@nhs.net
Please do not contact the centre where your appointment will be held as they do not hold information regarding your appointment and may not be able to answer your request.
If your child is a hearing aid user please make sure your child is either wearing their hearing aids or that you bring them with you.
We ask that you try not to bring any other young children with you as this can make hearing tests difficult. Your child may become distracted and this can affect the reliability of their results.
All children must attend appointments with a parent or guardian, if the patient is over the age of 14 they are welcome to attend alone as long as they are able to give consent for any tests or procedures.
Please let us know if you require an interpreter of any additional support before your appointment so that we can make arrangements for your appointment.
During your appointment
Appointment lengths vary and we cannot guarantee how long they will take. Most hearing tests take been 30-45 minutes, it may be longer depending on the type of test, but we will advise you beforehand if more time will be needed.
The appointment will start with a brief discussion with the Audiologist about the reason for your child’s referral for a hearing test and any concerns you may have regarding your child. Pre-assessment checks will then be conducted to look at the inside of your child’s ear to check for wax, redness or any abnormalities as well as assessing the movement of the ear drum.
We will then begin to play a game with your child to test their hearing. The hearing test will change depending on your child’s age they may be asked to press a button or play a game with some toys. For younger children we will teach them to turn their head when they hear a noise to which they will see a puppet or small cartoon. Additionally babies will be tested whilst asleep.
After testing the Audiologist will explain your child’s results to you so you are able to understand the outcome. If you are unsure please feel free to ask the audiologist any questions. We may want to see your child again depending on their results but this will be discussed with you before you leave your appointment.
After your appointment
All patients will receive a written report in the post that will show all the results you’re your child’s hearing test. The report will also be sent to the person that referred your child for a hearing test, your child’s GP and any other health professionals that your child may be seeing.
If your child needs to be seen again we will contact you will another appointment either by letter or telephone.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will my child’s appointment be?
Appointment lengths vary and we cannot guarantee how long they will take. Most hearing tests take been 30-45 minutes, it may be longer depending on the type of test, but we will advise you beforehand if more time will be needed.
Who do I contact about my child’s appointment?
You should contact East Kent Children’s Hearing Service administration team about your appointment. They will be able to confirm the date, time and location for you. Please use one of the following methods to contact them;
Telephone: 01227 864131
Text: 07881940689
Email: ekh-tr.eastkentchildrenshearingservice@nhs.net
Please do not contact the centre where your appointment will be held as they do not hold information regarding your appointment and may not be able to answer your request.
If my child is sick what should I do?
If you feel your child is too unwell to attend their appointment then please contact the East Kent Children’s Hearing Service administration team to allow them to cancel your appointment and either rebook your appointment or place your child onto a waiting list.
I can’t attend the appointment I was given, can this be changed?
If you are unable to attend the appointment we have issued then please contact the East Kent Children’s Hearing Service administration team as soon as possible. They will be able to assist you in rebooking your appointment.
What if my child has a hearing loss?
If your child is identified with a hearing loss this will be discussed with you by the Audiologists or the Consultant Audiovestibular Physician. We will support you from the point of diagnosis and offer further investigations so that we can better understand the cause of your child’s hearing loss to enable us to provide a customised care plan specifically for your child.
