Audiology in Glasgow

At Ross Hall Hospital, we offer a dedicated private audiology service. We offer fast access to dedicated Audiologists who help to diagnose and manage hearing loss in all forms. We provide innovative treatments for hearing loss as well as a range of hearing aids to help you live life to the fullest.

The experienced Audiologists work together with consultants in other specialities, in particular ENT, to provide a comprehensive diagnostic and treatment experience for both adult and child patients with hearing loss.

The audiology specialists are supported by excellent facilities, modern technology and the highest standard of comfort and cleanliness available in order to provide you with fast, effective and bespoke treatment.

An Audiologist provides diagnosis, management and treatment for a wide range of hearing-related conditions, such as tinnitus, conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.

You’ll be seen quickly by the right specialist in the right place, with plenty of time to go through every aspect of your treatment.

Book an initial appointment at Ross Hall Hospital’s comprehensive audiology facility today.

Audiology is a branch of medicine for the assessment, diagnosis and ongoing treatment of patients with hearing loss and balance-related disorders. Audiologists and ENT consultants also help to proactively prevent worsening of hearing loss with both treatments and lifestyle guidance.

Hearing loss can affect people of any age, from young children suffering from glue ear through to a wide range of age-related hearing loss conditions that become increasingly likely with age.

Types of hearing loss

ENT Consultants and Audiologists at Ross Hall Hospital regularly see patients suffering from:

• Conductive hearing loss - Occurring in the middle ear, this is usually a mechanical problem that may benefit from surgery to fully rectify. Patients will be referred back to an ENT surgeon for this.
  
  
• Sensorineural hearing loss - A type of loss that can’t be treated with surgery or medication, therefore, hearing aids are the most appropriate treatment.
  
  
• Mixed hearing loss - Patients suffering from a combination of conductive hearing loss and sensorineural hearing loss. A mix of treatments may be suitable here.
  
  
• Tinnitus - We provide a full tinnitus service that includes assessment and management. Management may include tinnitus retraining therapy or the prescription of innovative hearing aids.

Your ENT consultant or Audiologist will be able to discuss the appropriate investigative tests to ensure you receive a fast and accurate diagnosis. We routinely conduct a range of private diagnostic hearing tests to assess your audiological profile:

• Full air and bone hearing test
• Middle ear and eustachian tube function test
• Acoustic reflex testing
• Speech discrimination testing

Hearing tests provided by an expert audiologist is where most patients will begin, and this straightforward but incredibly useful test is done for a variety of reasons.

ENT consultants will often request tests from Audiologists for a routine hearing test when the patient has experienced: 

• Sudden loss of hearing
• Gradual hearing loss over time
• Temporary hearing loss - glue ear, or sudden exposure to loud noise

Audiologists also provide hearing tests before and after surgical procedures for hearing loss. These tests help to determine the success of surgery and see what improvement has been made. 

Oncologists will occasionally request hearing tests as treatments such as chemotherapy can affect hearing. An Oncologist may wish to assess the hearing of a patient undergoing chemotherapy before, during or after treatment to assess any loss of hearing as a result of the treatment.

Your Audiologist will send the results of your hearing tests back to the specialist that requested them so that they can recommend the most appropriate tailored treatment for you. Depending on the results of the diagnostic tests and your individual needs, an Audiologist will also help by offering non-surgical solutions such as hearing aids.

Hearing aids

If hearing aids are required, we offer a range of the latest hearing instruments, including custom-made in-the-ear devices, those for single-sided deafness or hearing loss and custom hearing protection for patients who have exposure to loud noises through their work or hobbies. Your Audiologist will lead a discussion with you to explain the pros, cons, and features of each hearing aid to ensure you are provided with the type that suits your needs and lifestyle.

Cochlear implants

If you’re suffering from a severe form of hearing loss and hearing aids are not suitable, then a procedure called a cochlear implant may be required. Your Audiologist would then refer you to the NHS for specialist treatment.

Medico-legal tests - Audiologists commonly see patients undergoing tests as part of a medico-legal case and provide a report back to the referrer.

Routine employment tests - If you work in an environment where there is likely to be loud noise, your employer will often request a hearing test before you begin working there, and routinely every few years during the course of your employment to ensure your hearing is not being damaged by noise exposure.

Musicians’ monitors - Audiologists often see musicians who require monitor devices to provide both a monitoring function during performance as well as protection against loud noise.

When arriving at the hospital, you will be greeted by the friendly reception team before your Audiologist greets you and takes you to the dedicated audiology room.

Your Audiologist will take time to understand your symptoms and background, how your hearing loss is affecting you and what activities you are struggling with.

Depending on your reason for seeing the Audiologist, you’ll then go through a series of tests. Common tests that your Audiologist might carry out are:

• Otoscopy - This routine procedure is used to investigate the ear’s structures, particularly the middle ear and auditory canal using an otoscope.
  
  
• Tympanometry - This straightforward test aims to understand how sound is travelling through the middle ear.
  
  
• Audiometry  - A diagnostic test used to determine the type and degree of hearing loss.

During an audiometry hearing test you’ll be offered a seat in a special sound proof booth and provided with headphones. The Audiologist will sit outside the booth in front of you, and operate a device called an audiometer. This device allows your Audiologist to send tones through to your headphones so they can to test the degree of hearing loss. Your Audiologist will also be able to speak to you through the headphones to give you instructions and ask you questions.

Hearing tests are completely painless and usually last around 20 minutes. If you are accompanying your child for their hearing test, you can rest assured that the Audiologists at Ross Hall Hospital will ensure your child remains comfortable throughout the whole appointment.

Once the tests have been completed, and the results are ready, a follow-up appointment will be arranged with your Audiologist or consultant to discuss the results and determine the best form of condition management or treatment for you.

The type of treatment you will receive will be tailored to you and explained thoroughly. If further diagnostic tests or treatments are required, these will also be explained fully during your consultation to ensure you are as comfortable as possible.

At Ross Hall Hospital, we understand the impact hearing loss can have on our patients’ wellbeing and aim to provide a comforting environment with unparalleled audiology treatment.

The leading Audiologists and ENT consultants work together with the wider hospital team to ensure you receive the best possible private care while at Ross Hall Hospital. They are there to comfort and reassure you from initial consultation and diagnosis to treatment and throughout your recovery.

We offer quick and easy access to investigative diagnostics and treatments with cutting-edge technology and modern facilities, including specialist audiology facilities and a state-of-the-art theatre for ENT surgery should it be required.

At Ross Hall Hospital, we are proud of the prompt, safe and high-quality care we are able to offer:

• No waiting lists for expert audiologists - We understand that your hearing is a top priority, and we aim to make it ours as well by offering appointments with expert audiologists usually within 48 hours with no waiting lists, ensuring your diagnosis and treatment can get started quickly.
  
  
• Work closely with leading ENT surgeons - We utilise a forward-thinking and multidisciplinary approach to ensure you receive the finest audiology treatment. The Audiologist available at Ross Hall Hospital work alongside expert ENT consultants and surgeons who are vastly experienced in this area of medicine and contribute to a fast diagnosis and effective treatment.
  
  
• Range of specialist devices available -  Patients with hearing loss often require ongoing management in the form of hearing aids. We offer a wide range of the latest hearing instruments and cochlear implants, including custom-made in-the-ear devices, those for single-sided deafness, and custom hearing protection for patients who have exposure to loud noises, including competition and game shooting.

Our professional team is here to help you through every stage of your journey. Give us a call or book online today.