Type of service: Diagnostic services

The Nuffield Hearing & Speech Centre is a multi-disciplinary specialist centre for the assessment, diagnosis and management of hearing disorders, listening difficulties, speech and language difficulties, tinnitus and balance disorders in children and young people from birth to 19 years of age. In 2003 the Nuffield was chosen as a pilot site for Modernising Children’s Hearing Aids (MCHAS), a National Health Service (NHS) initiative to fit digital hearing aids to children. Links with the Institute of Laryngology and Otology (ILO) and the Ear Institute have meant that auditory research has had an influence on the practice within the centre. As well as being a centre of excellence for the management of children with disorders of hearing, balance and speech and language the Nuffield is a training centre for professionals. The Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital is the largest centre for audiovestibular medicine in the United Kingdom (UK) and is responsible for providing training for the majority of doctors in this field. Links with University College London provides opportunities for research as well as teaching and training for audiologists, speech and language therapists, audiovestibular physicians and psychologists. In addition the centre is involved in medical undergraduate teaching, post-graduate training for Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) surgeons and paediatricians and specialist training for nurses and teachers of the deaf.

Assessment procedure: Joint appointment with paediatrician and speech and language therapist, and hearing test - approximately 2 hours.

Follow up service: Yes.

Multi-disciplinary assessment: Yes, professions involved: paediatrics, speech and language therapy. Refer to clinical psychology if necessary.

Aimed at: Adolescent , Child

Referral Sources: Private Only

Specialisms: Generic

Other specialisms: Learning disability

Approaches and tools used: 3Di, ADOS