Private audiology in Canterbury

Private audiology at Chaucer Hospital in Canterbury

Audiology is the specialist field of healthcare focused on assessing, diagnosing, and managing hearing and balance conditions. Audiologists are trained professionals who investigate how well you hear sounds and speech, while also assessing how your ears and auditory system are functioning.

This includes evaluating the outer ear, middle ear, inner ear, and the pathways responsible for carrying sound signals to the brain. Audiology also considers how hearing or balance difficulties may affect your communication, confidence, work, and overall quality of life.

At Chaucer Hospital in Canterbury, audiology care is personalised to your individual symptoms and lifestyle needs. Your audiologist will take time to understand your concerns fully before recommending appropriate investigations, support, or treatment options.

What happens during an audiology appointment at Chaucer Hospital in Canterbury?

Your audiology appointment is designed to build a detailed understanding of your hearing and ear health. The assessment begins with a discussion about your symptoms, medical history, and any changes you may have noticed in your hearing or balance.

You may be asked when your symptoms began, whether one or both ears are affected, and whether you experience tinnitus, dizziness, ear discomfort, or balance problems. Your audiologist may also ask about your work environment, hobbies, or any exposure to loud noise, as these factors can contribute to hearing changes.

This information helps guide your assessment and ensures the most appropriate hearing tests are carried out for your individual situation.

Ear examination

Your appointment may begin with a physical examination of your ears using a small handheld instrument called an otoscope. This allows your audiologist to look safely inside the ear canal and assess the condition of your eardrum.

The examination helps identify common issues that may affect hearing, including earwax build-up, inflammation, infection, or structural abnormalities within the ear canal or middle ear. In some cases, this assessment may explain your symptoms immediately if a blockage or temporary issue is identified.

If your ears appear healthy, the examination helps rule out outer or middle ear problems before further hearing tests are carried out.

Hearing tests

If additional investigation is required, you will undergo a series of hearing tests in a quiet clinical environment. These assessments are painless, non-invasive, and designed to evaluate different aspects of your hearing ability.

Tests may include listening to sounds at different pitches and volumes through headphones, responding when sounds are heard, and speech testing to assess how clearly you understand spoken words.

Your audiologist will explain each stage of testing clearly and ensure you remain comfortable throughout the assessment.

Middle ear function tests

In some situations, additional tests may be carried out to assess how well your eardrum and middle ear system are functioning. These tests can help identify issues such as fluid behind the eardrum, pressure changes, or reduced movement within the middle ear.

If balance symptoms are present, your audiologist may also discuss whether further specialist assessment would be beneficial.

Explanation of results and next steps

Once your assessment is complete, your audiologist will explain your results clearly and discuss whether any hearing loss or ear-related condition has been identified.

Depending on your results, recommendations may include monitoring your hearing, hearing aids, tinnitus management strategies, or referral to an ENT specialist for further medical assessment if required. You will have the opportunity to ask questions and fully discuss your treatment or support options before making any decisions about your care.

How much does private audiology cost at The Chaucer Hospital in Cnaterbury?

The cost of an initial consultation with an audiologist starts at around £200. The cost of your audiology treatment will depend on your symptoms and condition, what treatment you are recommended, and various other factors, including which consultant you choose.

You can choose to fund your treatment through self-pay (paying for yourself) or use private health insurance. We work with most major providers, and our friendly advisory team can help guide you through using your cover.

Our flexible payment options help you spread the cost of your payment across a time period that suits you. We offer fixed-term monthly payment plans over one to five years with no deposit required. If you decide to pay over 10 months, you will pay interest-free. If you are paying for a longer period, you will pay 9.9% APR.

How long does an audiology appointment take?

An audiology appointment at Chaucer Hospital in Canterbury usually lasts between 30 and 60 minutes, depending on the complexity of your symptoms and the number of tests required.

This allows time for a detailed discussion, comprehensive hearing assessment, explanation of your results, and the opportunity to ask any questions about your hearing or treatment options.

Because hearing tests are non-invasive, you can normally return to your usual activities immediately after your appointment without any recovery time.

What conditions can audiology assess?

Audiology assessments can help investigate a wide range of hearing and balance-related conditions. These may include temporary hearing changes, long-term hearing loss, tinnitus, dizziness, or symptoms linked to the inner ear.

Hearing loss

Audiology can help identify different types of hearing loss, including conductive hearing loss caused by outer or middle ear problems, sensorineural hearing loss affecting the inner ear or hearing nerve, and mixed hearing loss involving both.

Tinnitus

Tinnitus describes sounds such as ringing, buzzing, or humming that are heard without an external source. Assessment can help investigate potential causes and guide management strategies to reduce the impact on daily life.

Balance and dizziness symptoms

Problems affecting the inner ear can sometimes contribute to dizziness, vertigo, or balance difficulties. Audiology assessment can help determine whether your symptoms may be linked to the auditory or balance system.

Temporary hearing conditions

Some hearing changes may result from treatable conditions such as earwax build-up, infection, or fluid within the middle ear. Identifying these causes early can help support effective treatment and symptom relief.

When should you consider an audiology assessment?

You may benefit from an audiology appointment if you notice changes in your hearing or experience symptoms that affect your communication, comfort, or confidence.

Common reasons to seek assessment include difficulty following conversations, especially in noisy environments, increasing the volume on devices, asking people to repeat themselves frequently, tinnitus symptoms, dizziness, or a sensation of pressure within the ears.

Because hearing changes can develop gradually, early assessment helps identify problems sooner and may support more effective management or treatment.

What happens after your audiology assessment?

After your hearing tests are complete, your audiologist will explain your results in straightforward, easy-to-understand language.

If your hearing is within the expected range, you may be reassured and advised on protecting your hearing health moving forward. If a hearing issue is identified, your audiologist will discuss the next steps, which may include monitoring, further investigations, hearing aid assessment, or referral to an ENT consultant if additional medical assessment is required.

You will have time to discuss any concerns and fully understand your treatment or management options before deciding how you would like to proceed.

Are audiology assessments suitable for all ages?

Audiology assessments can be adapted for adults of all ages and are tailored to your individual symptoms, hearing needs, and level of comfort.

Whether your hearing changes are linked to ageing, noise exposure, tinnitus, or another medical condition, your audiologist will ensure all tests are explained clearly and carried out at a pace that feels comfortable for you.

Why choose Chaucer Hospital in Canterbury for audiology?

When you choose to go private with Circle Health Group, you can expect:

• Flexible appointment times to fit your schedule
• Bespoke, consultant-led treatment plans tailored to your individual needs
• Support from the same compassionate clinical team from beginning to end
• Transparent, fixed-price packages with aftercare included
• Flexible payment options to help spread the cost of your care

Going private for healthcare provides faster access to a vast range of treatment options, greater flexibility in choosing specialists, and more personalised care.

How to book an audiology appointment in Canterbury

To book a consultation to discuss your hearing with an audiologist near you, use our online booking system, or give us a call and one of our dedicated advisors will help you find an appointment time that suits you.