Incident Status:
Audiology
Audiology Department Quick Links
The audiology department offers an all-age diagnostic and rehabilitative audiology service. This includes:
- The assessment, provision and follow-up of hearing aids for adults and children;
- Repair and maintenance of hearing aids for NHS users;
- Diagnostic Audiology support to the ENT department;
- The follow up of babies referred by the Newborn Hearing Screening Programme; (a national programme established to test all babies’ hearing soon after birth)
- A paediatric audiology service that assesses the hearing of children of any age;
- A specialist audiology service for clients with a learning disability (via regular clinics with our colleagues in the sensory impairment team at Twinwoods).
The department is funded to fit digital hearing aids to all appropriate hearing losses using nationally recognised guidelines and standards of care.
Direct GP referrals for hearing aid assessment are accepted for over 55 year olds (with no other ear nose and throat conditions). Existing hearing aid patients are able to self-refer for assessments following significant changes to their hearing or to upgrade from older-style analogue hearing aids.
The department operates an appointment-only policy for hearing aid repairs and replacements. Routine repairs are usually seen within two to three days.
The department is open daily for battery replacements.
Department Location
The audiology department is located in Beeden House at Bedford Hospital South Wing.
Department Opening Hours
Monday to Thursday: 9am to 5pm
Friday: 9am to 4.30pm
Closed for lunch 12.45pm to 2pm
Key Staff
Katie Brown MSc, chief audiologist
Neil Hutchison MSc, audiological scientist
Elizabeth Hough PhD MSc, audiological scientist
Pip John BSc (Hons), senior audiologist
Sandra Crowhurst, senior audiologist
Jane Hirst, senior audiologist
Mahdiyya Sachoo BSc (Hons), audiologist
Louise Copeland, associate audiologist
Shirley Webster, senior assistant technical officer
Ann-Marie Adair, senior assistant technical officer
Tracy Henry, clinic co ordinator
Contact Us
Audiology reception: 01234 792191
Department e-mail contact: audiology@bedfordhospital.nhs.uk
Audiology Department, Beeden House First Floor Reception D, Bedford Hospital NHS Trust, Kempston Road, Bedford, MK42 9DJ.
Provide feedback or comments
We welcome comments and feedback from patients and visitors, both on what we're doing well and how you think we can improve. Provide us with your feedback or comments here. You can also post your thoughts and comments on Bedford Hospital's NHS Choices pages.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What do I do if I think my hearing aid is not working?
Replace the battery with a new one.
Check that the hearing aid is switched on and the volume control (if you have one) is set correctly.
Check that the battery is the correct size (the battery should fit snugly in the drawer) and that it is inserted correctly into the hearing aid (the drawer should shut easily without you having to force it).
Check the tube to see if it is blocked with condensation (this can occur in very warm weather if you perspire or in the winter when you come indoors from the cold). Remove the earmould from the hearing aid and put it somewhere warm (like an airing cupboard) to dry out.
Check to see if the tube has twisted (this can happen if the aid has been reattached at the wrong angle after washing). It may be possible to straighten the tube but it is likely that you will need to get the earmould tubing replaced.
What causes hearing aids to whistle?
Feedback occurs when amplified sound from your hearing aid leaks out of your ear and back to your hearing aid microphone.
Possible solutions:
Make sure your earmould is correctly inserted. If you have problems inserting your earmould you may need to contact us so that we can arrange for you to have help practising insertion.
Check your earmould and tube to ensure it is not blocked with wax. Wax in your ear is another very common cause of whistling in hearing aids.
Feedback will also occur if the earmould no longer fits properly. Over time, the size and shape of the ear changes and the earmould might then become loose. If you think this is the case you will need to contact the audiology department to arrange an appointment to take a new ear impression.
What do I need to do if I lose my hearing aid?
If your hearing aid has been lost, you will need to contact the audiology department to make an appointment for a new ear impression. Please note there is a small charge for lost hearing aids which is payable at the appointment when the new hearing aid is fitted.
How often should I get my hearing checked?
Hearing loss is usually a gradual process and it may be several years before you feel it is necessary to come back for a reassessment. Our recommendation is that you get your hearing checked approximately every 3 years or more.
Is it possible to have a refresher appointment for insertion and maintenance of my hearing aid?
If you feel that you require a routine appointment for maintenance or management of your hearing aid, please contact the audiology department to arrange an appointment in the repair clinic.
How do digital hearing aids work?
Digital aids take the signal from the microphone and convert it into 'bits' of data. These ‘bits’ or numbers are then manipulated by a tiny computer in the hearing aid. This makes it possible to tailor and process sounds very precisely, in ways that are impossible with analogue aids. The better digital aids can be very finely adjusted to suit your individual needs. You may also be able to switch between different settings suitable for different listening conditions. Many digital aids even adjust themselves automatically to suit different sound environments.
Can digital hearing aids help cut out background noise?
People who use traditional analogue hearing aids often complain that they find it difficult or impossible to follow conversations in noisy places. Many digital aids are designed to reduce steady kinds of background noise, such as the rumble of traffic or the whirr of a fan. This makes listening more comfortable, but it does not necessarily help you to pick out a single voice from everything else going on, especially when several people are talking. Two things have been shown to improve hearing in noisy situations more than anything else; these are wearing hearing aids in both ears, and using hearing aids that have directional microphones.
Directional microphones pick up sounds that come from in front of you much better than sounds to the side or behind you. This makes it easier for you to focus on what you want to listen to in a noisy place. Most digital hearing aids have microphones that can be set to operate like this. This means you can switch between directional and all-round sound, depending on what you need to hear at the time. Some digital aids will sense automatically where the noise is coming from and adjust the microphone to reduce the noise selectively. However, a hearing aid cannot know what you want to listen to and sothe reduction of unwanted sound can never be perfect.
Can digital aids help reduce whistling?
Yes. Some digital hearing aids have 'acoustic feedback suppression' or, better still, 'feedback cancellation'. This means that they can automatically reduce the whistling that bothers many people who use hearing aids.
How big are digital hearing aids?
Digital hearing aids – just like analogue ones – come in 'behind-the-ear', 'in-the-ear' or 'in-the-canal' styles. On the NHS, ‘behind-the-ear’ aids are the only style available. They are not necessarily smaller than analogue hearing aids. You may be offered a choice if you go to a private hearing aid dispenser. The very small models, though less noticeable, may be more fiddly to use, tend to break down more often and you may not be able to use them with a loop system. But some people find them easier to put in and take out. You can read more about different types of hearing aids here. If you want further information on obtaining an ITE hearing aid please refer to our Private Hearing Aid Service section.
Can I get a digital hearing aid from the NHS?
The RNID campaigned successfully for the modernisation of NHS hearing aid services and the provision of high quality digital hearing aids. From 2000 to 2005, the RNID worked with the Department of Health to lead a £125m modernisation programme in England, which is now complete. Similar audiology modernisation has taken place in Wales and Northern Ireland and the process in Scotland was completed in 2007.
Both moderate-power and high-power digital hearing aids are available for adults and children. They are sophisticated multi-channel aids with features such as directional microphones, automatic noise reduction and different programmes that can be selected for different listening conditions.
Who is eligible for a digital hearing aid?
If you have not had an NHS hearing aid before, you must first visit your GP. The modernised audiology departments are offering digital aids to every patient waiting for their first hearing aid, if their hearing tests show that they would benefit from one.
Audiology departments will also offer digital aids to people who already have NHS analogue aids, if a reassessment indicates new hearing aids are required.
If you are a war pensioner, you will be given priority for hearing aids if your pension was awarded for deafness resulting from service. This means that you may be seen more quickly at your clinic but it does not mean that you are entitled to better hearing aids than other patients.
You can get an NHS digital hearing aid, even if you have already bought a hearing aid privately. If you are a private ear, nose and throat (ENT) patient, you must wait the same amount of time to be fitted with an aid as NHS patients referred by their GP. You will not be given any priority over other referrals.
Battery Replacement Service
As well as getting your batteries from the audiology department, you can also get them from local health centres in and around Bedfordshire. A list of locations is available via below link.
Hearing Therapy
We are currently running a limited hearing therapy service for adults with acquired hearing loss. This includes a tinnitus clinic and advice regarding assistive listening devices.
In some cases assistive listening devices may be funded and obtained through the deaf services team in social services. The contact numbers for this team are: 01234 276124 or 01234 276169.
Paediatric (Children's) Audiology
The Paediatric Audiology Service provides audiological assessment and treatment for children from newborn to school leaving age. The team works in close conjunction with Teachers of the Deaf, and ENT doctors.Referrals can be accepted from GPs, health visitors, other professionals and parents (with a GP referral letter).
If your child’s hearing aid is faulty, please contact the audiology department and a repair appointment will be arranged for the same day.
NHSP
The NHS Newborn Hearing Screening Programme (NHSP) ensures all parents are offered hearing screening for their new baby within the first few days or weeks of life.
Please click here for further information.
For an RNID factsheet on newborn hearing screening, click here.
Other useful links
The National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) provides a wealth of information for families, carers and friends of hearing impaired children. Freephone 0808 800 8880.
Glue Ear – a common cause of temporary hearing difficulties in young children
Glue ear is the build up of a sticky glue-like fluid in the ear. A healthy middle ear (the space immediately behind your eardrum) contains air and no fluid. This helps the eardrum to vibrate freely in response to sound. Glue ear can cause temporary deafness. It is a common condition in early childhood. In the majority of cases glue ear will resolve spontaneously but in some instances the problem persists and a small operation may be required to remove the fluid to prevent the hearing problem delaying your child’s speech and language development. Hearing aids may also help in the short term. Click here for an RNID factsheet on glue ear, or here for factsheets from Deafness Research.
Sensory Impairment and Music Therapy Team
If your child wears a hearing aid, or has specific hearing problems, we will offer to introduce you to our colleagues in the Sensory Impairment and Music Therapy Team (SIMTT). A teacher from this team will be assigned to visit you and your child, either at home or nursery when they are very young, or at school as they get older. Their role is to offer support and advice to ensure your child is making the most of their hearing right through to school-leaving age.
Sensory Impairment Service
The sensory impairment service is part of the multidisciplinary specialist healthcare team and is based in the clinical services department of services for people with a learning disability. The service is run by SEPT (South East Essex Partnership University Foundation Trust).
The service aims to help adults with learning disabilities access appropriate sight and hearing assessments, in an environment suitable for their needs. It supports people to use their sight and hearing, use aids and adaptations and maximise the use of their senses.
The service also provides primary ear care and health promotion to clients and their carers and is based at two centres:
Any enquires about this service should be directed to ruth.cooper@sept.nhs.uk
Sudden Hearing Loss
As time passes it is normal for hearing to deteriorate gradually. At some point it will become necessary to re-tune your hearing aids or move to more powerful ones to help you hear better.
Private Hearing Aid Service
The department works closely with a Registered Hearing Aid Dispenser, who visits the department on weekly basis. The dispenser is usually able to see interested patients within a fortnight and offers a wider range of hearing aids than the NHS, including the most modern technology and smaller in-the-ear hearing aids.
For further information on this service, please contact the audiology department.
Bedfordshire Hearing Advisory Service
A service has been launched for people who are deaf and hard-of-hearing in Bedford and North Bedfordshire.
The Bedfordshire Hearing Advisory Service (BHAS) visits several GP surgeries every month, as well as Bedford Hospital, to offer advice and support to people affected by hearing loss, as well as basic hearing aid maintenance and new batteries.
People can use the service even if they are not a patient at the GP surgery.
The service is run by Beth Moore, who has previously worked as a hospital senior chief audiologist and can provide advice on all aspects of hearing loss and perform basic maintenance on your hearing aid, such as retubing it.
To find out more about BHAS, visit www.hhas.org.uk/bedfordshire or call 01707 324 582.
The BHAS currently visits the following locations. Please call the surgery on the listed number to make an appointment:
Bedford Hospital audiology department - 01234 792191
London Road Health Centre, London Road - 01234 266851
Priory Medical Practice, The Glebe, Clapham - 01234 262040
Putnoe Medical Centre, Queens Drive, Putnoe - 01234 310431
The Surgery, Honeysuckle Way, Goldington - 01234 213300
Cranfield - Cranfield Surgery - 01234 750234
Peacock Medical Practice, Great Barford - 01234 870325
The Medical Centre, Kingswood Way, Great Denham - 01234 244000
King Street Surgery, Kempston - 01234 853047
Harrold Medical Practice, Peaches Close, Harrold - 01234 720225
Marston Clinic, Bedford Road, Marston Moretaine - 01234 766551
Wootton Vale Healthy Living Centre, Wootton - 01234 762500.
Leaflets
To view a selection of leaflets please visit our patient information library.
