Audiology

Audiology is the study of hearing and balance. Our consultant audiologists work to assess, diagnose and treat people with hearing and balance difficulties. These issues include hearing loss, tinnitus, dizziness and other distressing disorders.

Problems with balance and dizziness are often caused by issues with your inner ear. As you can imagine, these conditions can be debilitating and distressing. They can interfere with your ability to communicate and move around, causing confusion, nausea and vertigo.

At our hospitals, we are proud to facilitate consultant audiologists who can help test, diagnose, and treat or manage hearing loss, tinnitus and balance problems to help improve your quality of life.

You can access audiology treatment with us using private medical insurance or by paying for your own treatment.

Often audiology treatment will be covered by your private health insurance, but not always. Speak to your provider directly to see what's covered in your policy.

If you want to pay for your own treatment, you can either pay in full or take advantage of our flexible payment options, which allow you to spread the cost over a period of up to five years.

Our self-pay customers benefit from fixed-price packages, meaning you'll know exactly what you're going to pay before you book your surgery. Your initial consultation and early diagnostic tests won't be included, but the cost of your surgery and hospital fees are, and so is your aftercare programme. There are no hidden costs down the line.

If you notice any difficulty with your hearing, either in one ear or both, speak to your GP. They will be able to assess your condition and refer you to an audiologist, who can conduct a full investigation.

You should schedule an audiology consultation if:

• You have difficulty hearing when there’s noise in the background
• You hear voices as mumbled or slurred
• You find it hard to follow conversations
• There is a feeling of pressure in your ear
• You get dizzy
• You struggle to keep your balance
• There are ringing or buzzing sounds in your ear

The above symptoms may be caused by one of the following conditions, which can be treated by your audiologist:

Earwax build-up

Earwax build-up can happen when your ears are narrow or damaged, and the wax hardens and cannot fall out on its own. It can also be caused by skin conditions, or inflammation of your outer ear.

Ear infections

Infections of your outer ear can be caused by bacteria irritating the skin of the ear canal. Middle and ear infections tend to happen when you have a cold of flu and affects the Eustachian tube - the tube that runs behind your eardrum to the back of your nose.

Perforated eardrum

Infections, injuries, changes in pressure and extremely loud noises can all cause your eardrum to tear.

Hearing loss

Hearing loss can be permanent or temporary. It is often associated with ageing, although it can happen to younger people too. According to the charity RNID (previously the Royal National Institute for Deaf People), 12 million adults in the UK experience hearing loss, which is equivalent to one in five. RNID has suggested that loss of hearing can lead to withdrawal from social situations and depression. Treatments include earwax removal, hearing aids and cochlear implants.

Tinnitus

Tinnitus occurs when you hear sound that is not coming from an outside source - this can be in the form of a ringing, buzzing, or another noise. The British Tinnitus Association estimates that over seven million adults in the UK live with tinnitus.

Balance problems

Our balance is affected by our eyes and ears, as well as our muscles and joints. Audiology is concerned with the elements of balance that are affected by your inner ear, which is known as the vestibular system. We offer various tests that can be done to assess your inner ear and balance problems as well as a variety of treatments that can address them.

Our audiologists offer a variety of treatments and can also refer you to other experienced specialists at our hospitals, such as chartered physiotherapists or ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeons. Some of our most common audiology treatments include:

Audiology consultation (hearing test)

An audiology consultation is usually recommended to test and diagnose issues, and there are a range of different hearing tests that can be done. For instance, a pure tone audiogram can establish your threshold of hearing, and additional tests can measure the presence of fluid in your ear or the stiffness of your eardrum.

Audiologists also work with Ears Nose and Throat (ENT) specialists to help you overcome problems including tinnitus and dizziness.

Tinnitus counselling

Tinnitus counselling can give you a greater understanding of what tinnitus is, and why it is heard. This can help you adopt new behaviours and reduce your awareness of tinnitus, therefore lowering your emotional response.

Tinnitus counselling could include relaxation advice, along with sleep hygiene information and bedside masking devices. Sound therapy may also be used - this involves using noise to make tinnitus less intrusive.

Vestibular rehabilitation

If you have problems with balance relating to your vestibular system, our audiologists might recommend vestibular rehabilitation. This is a targeted form of physiotherapy, provided by specially trained practitioners, that can help you to regain your balance.

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

• Flexible appointment times and locations to fit your routine
• The freedom to choose which hospital and consultant suit your needs
• Personalised, consultant-led treatment plans tailored to your individual needs
• Comfortable and safe private facilities maintained by expert multidisciplinary teams
• Private ensuite rooms as standards and delicious healthy meals
• Affordable, fixed-price packages with aftercare included
• Flexible payment options to help you spread the cost of your care

If you would like to learn more about audiology and treatments for hearing and inner ear problems, book your appointment online today or call a member of our team directly.

Content reviewed by Circle in-house team in March 2023. Next review due March 2026.

1. Hearing matters, RNID
2. Living with Tinnitus, tinnitus.org
3. Balance disorders, British Association of Audiology