https://kingstonhospital.nhs.uk/information/this-is-about-audiology-services-appointments
 | Hearing loss can develop at any time. You could start to lose your hearing slowly overtime and it is painless. You may not realise it is happening. Your friends and family may notice before you do. |
 | People seem to mumble and do not speak clearly. People say that I have the TV and radio too loud. I miss visits to my house or phone calls because I didn’t hear the ring. I have trouble following conversations in noisy places. I often do not hear and ask people to say their sentences again. My friends and family say that I have a hearing problem. People tell me that I speak loudly. |
 | It might be helpful to know a bit more information about your ears. |
 | Your ears turn sound waves in the air into information and send that information to your brain. This is how we hear things. |
 | There are many things that can affect your hearing, such as: |
 | Getting older |
 | Long-term exposure to noise |
 | Passed down through your family |
 | Illness or infection |
 | Side-effect of medication |
| Injury |
| Ear wax |
 | As we get older, our hearing gets worse. This usually happens slowly over time. Hearing loss affects everyone differently. |
 | Some people may struggle to hear if there is a lot of background noise. Some people may struggle to hear just one person talking. Everyone is different. |
 | One of the ways that people manage their hearing problems is through wearing hearing aids. There are other ways we can improve hearing and talking. |
 | Hearing loss can cause us to feel angry and upset. |
 | Take a look at the boxes below. They show that hearing loss can be a worry for families and friends. Do you know any of these things? By thinking about your own daily communication it can really help to know where you need the most help with your hearing. |
 | My thoughts: My husband always says to me to turn the TV down, it gets me down. |
 | Husband’s thoughts: The TV is up so loud, she just doesn’t listen and it upsets me. |
 | My thoughts: Children today don’t speak clearly, they mutter, it makes me so cross. |
 | Grandchild’s thoughts: Why doesn’t grandma answer when I ask her a question, it makes me so sad. |
 | My thoughts: I can’t hear my daughter on the telephone these new mobile phones are not as good as old house phones, it is so hard. |
 | Daughter’s thoughts: It would be good to talk with mum on the phone without repeating myself, it is hard work. |
 | My thoughts: I may as well not be there, I don’t understand, it is a waste of time to go out just to feel so lonely. |
 | Friends’ thoughts: We know she finds it hard with her hearing, so we try to make sure she can see our faces when we are talking. |
 | My thoughts: Why do they have to play music in public places? I can never hear how much I’m being asked for in shops and restaurants, it is hard. |
 | Shop assistant’s thoughts: She’s lovely but I wish she would get her hearing sorted, she never gives me the right money and I keep repeating what I am saying. |
 | The hearing nurse will: Ask you questions about your hearing problems. Go through your medical history. Perform an ear assessment. Talk about and agree on the best options for you. This may be a hearing aid. |
| Have you experienced earache in both ears, lasting more than 7 days in the past 90 days before your appointment? | Yes | No |
 | Have you experienced a history of discharge other than wax from either ear within the last 90 days? | Yes | No |
 | Have you experienced sudden loss or loss of hearing? (Sudden = within 1 week) | Yes | No |
| Have you experienced more of a rapid loss in your hearing? (Rapid= over 90 days or less) | Yes | No |
 | Have you experienced changes in your hearing loss, other than when you have a cold? | Yes | No |
 | Do you hear better in one ear than the other? | Yes | No |
 | Do you experience loud noises in a different ear or worse than the other? | Yes | No |
 | Do these noises stop you from sleeping at night, or give you anxiety or depression? | Yes | No |
 | In the last three months, have you had any problems such as dizziness, balance, spinning, swaying (side to side when walking), floating on air and going to one side when walking? | Yes | No |
 | Have you ever had a head/ear injury or surgery? | Yes | No |
 | Have you been hearing very loud sounds? | Yes | No |
 | Do you have a pacemaker? | Yes | No |
| Please think about specific times in which you would like to hear better. Please write them below. |
| For example, wanting to hear better at the dinner table or wanting to hear better when speaking on the telephone. |
| Important | What happens in those situations? |
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| 3 | |
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| 5 | |
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 | If you have a lot of earwax and often go to have your ears cleaned, make sure you have them cleaned 2 to 3 weeks before your appointment. |
 | If you have long hair you may like to bring along a hair band to keep your hair away from your ears during your appointment. |
 | It would be helpful if you could bring along a list of any medicines (tablets) you are taking. |
Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID)
(formerly action on hearing loss)
Telephone: 0808 808 0123 (freephone)
Textphone: 0808 808 9000 (freephone)
Tinnitus UK
Telephone: 0800 018 0527 (free of charge)
Within the UK: 0114 250 9922 national rate
Outside the UK: +44 (0)114 250 9922
Head Office: Ground Floor, Unit 5, Acorn Business Park, Woodseats Close, Sheffield S8 0TB
Email: info@tinnitus.org.uk
Kingston Tinnitus Support Group
Website: https://kingstonhospital.nhs.uk/get-involved/support-groups/welcome-to-kingston-hospital-tinnitus-support-group/
Lip-reading
To find out about classes in your area, enquire at your local library, adult education centre or write to the Information Officer, The Association of Teachers of Lip reading to Adults.
14 Grange Park, St Arvans, Chepstow NP6 6EA
YouTube
Visit youtube.com and search C2 Hear for a series of short videos about hearing aids, hearing loss and communication.
Hearing Link
Hearing Link is here to give you advice, information and support. Please contact our Help Desk by phone.
Telephone: 0300 111 1113
Head Office: 27-28 The Waterfront, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN23 5UZ
Text message: 07526 123255
Email: enquiries@hearinglink.org
Sense (for deafblind people)
Telephone: 0300 330 9256 or 020 7520 0972
Textphone: 0300 330 9256 or 020 7520 0972
Fax: 0300 330 9251
Head Office: 101 Pentonville Road, London N1 9LG
Email: info@sense.org.uk
Website: www.sense.org.uk
Signia hearing aids
https://www.signia.net/en-gb/
Kingston Hospital
Galsworthy Road, Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey KT2 7QB
Audiology Department: 020 8934 6406, option 1
Fax: 020 8934 3380
Email: khft.audiology@nhs.net
Queen Mary’s Hospital
Roehampton Lane, Roehampton SW15 5PN
Audiology Department: 020 8934 6406, option 1
Fax: 020 8934 3380
Email: khft.audiology@nhs.net
Website: www.kingstonhospital.nhs.uk
Dorking Community Hospital
Horsham Road, Dorking, Surrey RH4 2AA
Email: khft.aqpaudiology@nhs.net
Telephone: 01483 362 619
Cobham Day Surgery Hospital
168 Portsmouth Road, Cobham KT11 1HS
Telephone: 020 8394 6406 option 1
Fax: 020 8934 3380
Email: khft.audiology@nhs.net
Translate
Please talk to a member of staff before or during your visit to the hospital if you require translation support to access Patient Information. Please ring the phone number on your appointment letter, if you have one.
Accessibility
Please talk to the Patient Experience Team on 020 893 3850 if you need this information in a different format.
Patient Advice and Liaison Services (PALS)
PALS provides information, advice and support to patients and relatives.
Email: khft.pals@nhs.net
Phone: 020 8934 3993 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm)
Pastoral and Spiritual Support Service
We offer all backgrounds serving people of all faiths.
Phone the hospital switchboard: 020 8546 7711 and ask for the Duty Chaplain, we are available 24 hours a day 7 days a week
Learning Disability Liaison Service
We support patients and carers to plan a visit, helping to organise changes.
Email: khft.learningdisabilityteam@nhs.net
Phone: 020 8934 6895 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm)
| Translate | Please speak to a member of staff before or during your visit to the hospital if you require translation. |
| Accessibility | Please contact the Patient Experience Team on 020 8934 3850 if you need this information in a different format. For information accessibility please visit Kingston Hospital AccessAble www.accessable.co.uk/kingston-hospital-nhs-foundation-trust |
| Support services
www.kingstonhospital.nhs.uk Switchboard 020 8546 7711 |
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Please speak to a member of staff before or during your visit to the hospital if you require translation support to access Patient Information. Please ring the phone number on your appointment letter, if you have one.
Please contact the Patient Experience Team on 020 893 3850 if you need this information in a different format.
For detailed information on accessibility at Kingston Hospital visit Kingston Hospital AccessAble (https://www.accessable.co.uk/kingston-hospital-nhs-foundation-trust).
Visit the hospital website, ask a member of staff, or ring us for details.