Audiology
Welcome to Plymouth Hospital NHS Trust Audiology Services
Audiology is the science of hearing and vestibular (balance) function. The audiology service sees patients of all ages who have hearing and balance disorders. We carry out a variety of different tests, depending on the age and ability of the patient, and whether they have any specialist hearing problems, including hearing loss and tinnitus. Once tests are completed the team can make recommendations and provide appropriate rehabilitation. The department also tests patients who are suffering with their balance or dizziness.
Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust is the largest provider of adult hearing services in the South West Peninsula, seeing over 30,000 patients each year. The service is offered to patients from Plymouth, North and East Cornwall, South Hams and West Devon, with clinics held at our main hospital site in Plymouth, as well as a number of community hospitals and health centres across this area. We also carry out domiciliary care for people who are housebound, at the request of the GP.
The audiology service provides a holistic approach to audiology services for both adults and children of all ages, including the following:
- Community newborn hearing screening programme, including the provision of screening to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit babies and Automated Auditory Brainstem Response in the community
- Community paediatric assessment via referral from public health, GP or hospital consultant
- Paediatric Audiology
- A specialist paediatric hearing aid service for the Plymouth Hospitals footprint
- Hearing aid services for adults via direct referral from GP or via consultant referral for people with multiple difficulties
- Specialist audiological services, including bone anchored hearing aids, balance assessment and rehabilitation, clinics for adults with learning disabilities and/or complex needs
- A comprehensive hearing therapy service.
Clinics in the community are held for children and adults and a booked repair appointment service is available. Paediatric clinics are held at Child Development Centre (Scott Hospital) and Mount Gould Local Care centre. Adult clinics are held at Mount Gould Hospital, Kingsbridge, Tavistock clinic, Liskeard and Launceston. The repair clinics are held mostly once a month by appointment.
Repair service
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The drop-in hearing aid repair service is closed. Please do not attend the Audiology department unless you have a booked appointment.
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If your hearing aid needs repairing, we will arrange an appointment time for you to attend the department.
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Currently repair clinics are booked by assistant technical officers at Derriford. Patients are advised to email or call to book a repair appointment. This is being run as a pilot for 3 months.
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You can drop your hearing aids to the department by placing them in the blue box kept outside the Audiology entrance (Level 7, Derriford Hospital)
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You can post your hearing aid to us, and we will return it to you as soon as possible.
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We can answer technical questions over the phone or via email and post out supplies (e.g. tubes or batteries).
Contact us
Our technicians are available on the phone or via e-mail Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
Phone: 01752 430846 (please leave a message if you are unable to get through)
Email: plh-tr.audiologytech@nhs.net
Address:
Audiology Department,
Level 7,
Plymouth,
Derriford Hospital,
PL6 8DH
Repairs at outreach clinics
Repairs at outreach clinics can be arranged by appointment at the following centres:
