Moving to adult audiology
Last edited: 16/12/2022
Print this page
Share on social media
This content may not be reproduced, without the permission of Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust - contact us.
So, you’re 16 and it’s time for us to say goodbye. We understand that this this can be a really scary time so we will explain what will happen and answer some of the questions you might have. If there is anything else you would like to know, just ask and please tell us if you are worried about anything, no matter how small it may seem.
This information covers…
- What’s going to change?
- Where is the Adult Audiology Service?
- What do I need to do to see an audiologist?
- How do I know what type of appointment I need?
- What is my brown book for?
- How do I get more batteries?
- How often do I need to change my battery?
- How do I know if my mould is ok?
- How do I keep my hearing aid clean?
- What happens if my hearing aid breaks?
- Re-tubing your mould
- What do I do if I lose my hearing aid?
- Extra support
- Work
- Useful resources
What’s going to change?
The Adult Audiology Service gives you:
- more responsibility – You will be responsible for organising your hearing aid care. The contact details for the adult service that will support you are listed below. You will be expected to contact the centre as and when you need help.
- more independence – The audiologist will treat you as an adult and will involve you in all areas of your care. Your parents/carers do not have to attend.
- a different approach – The adult service is quite different to the children’s service and the type of appointments may not be what you are used to. This leaflet tells you more about the appointments you might have.
- different hearing aids – Very often, the adult service stocks different hearing aids to the children’s service. This means you may be expected to change hearing aids if your current hearing aid cannot be supported.
Where is the Adult Audiology Service?
Depending on where you live, you will go to one of the services below:
Maidstone Hospital, ME16 9QQ
Email: mtw-tr.audiology@nhs.net
Medway Maritime Hospital, ME7 5NY
Email: met-tr.audiologymedway@nhs.net
Tunbridge Wells Hospital, Pembury TN2 4QJ
Email: mtw-tr.audiology@nhs.net
What do I need to do to see an audiologist?
You will need to make the appointment yourself by contacting the service. If you need more support, you could also contact Adult Deaf Services. The adult department will not contact you to book appointments, you have to request appointments when you need them.
Some adult services offer an open repair session where you can drop in without an appointment. You will need to find out if this is available and the opening days and times.
If your problem requires anything more technical, then you need to book an appointment.
How do I know what type of appointment I need?
Hearing aid repair appointment
This is if your hearing aid needs to be adjusted in any way, is broken or has stopped working. This appointment will last 30 minutes.
Impression
This is when you need new moulds. This appointment will last 15 to 30 minutes.
A hearing test or re-assessment
This is if you feel your hearing has changed or it has been more than three years since your last assessment. This appointment will last 45 minutes to one hour.
If you are not sure which appointment you need, contact the service and explain your problem. The team will be able to help and book you the most suitable appointment.
What is my brown book for?
You should already have a brown book from the children’s service. You will need to take it to every appointment and when you are collecting batteries.
You can collect batteries with your brown book from any audiology service in the UK.
Please note: Adult services may need you to return your old batteries, so please make sure you do not throw them away.
How do I get more batteries?
From a Hi Kent clinic
Visit www.hikent.org.uk to find your nearest clinic.
Visit an audiology service with your brown book and ask for new batteries. A list of clinics that you can collect batteries from will be available from the adult service. You should be given this list at your first appointment.
Post your brown book to the Adult Audiology Service
You’ll need to pay for the postage. A new pack will be sent to you. A pack of six batteries will last between one and two months.
How often do I need to change my battery?
Batteries usually last for seven to 14 days but this depends on the type and strength of your hearing aid. Most hearing aids have a low battery warning beep. This sounds about 10 minutes before the battery runs out. Change the battery as soon as you can after you hear the warning beep.
How do I know if my mould is ok?
Your earmould should be in good condition and fit your ear comfortably. If it is loose or damaged, it may cause feedback (whistling) and could need replacing.
If your hearing aid is whistling when it’s in your ear, it can mean a number of things, including:
- you are not inserting the mould correctly – Ask your audiologist for advice
- your mould does not fit properly or is damaged – Ask your audiologist for a new mould
- you have lots of ear wax – Visit your GP to get the wax removed.
How do I keep my hearing aid clean?
Hearing aids and earmoulds should be removed from your ear and wiped with a tissue, cloth or wetwipe at the end of each day.
If your mould requires a really good clean follow these instructions:
- Hold the soft tubing and plastic elbow and gently tug them apart. This will detach the mould from the hearing aid.
- Keep the tubing in place and wash the ear mould in warm soapy water.
- Use a pin or a nailbrush to remove any ear wax. Blow down the tubing to get the water out.
- Put it in a warm place to dry, ideally overnight.
- Re-attach the ear mould to the hearing aid by gently pushing the plastic elbow and the tube back together.
Make sure that the earmould bends in the correct way.
What happens if my hearing aid breaks?
You will need to contact the adult service to make an appointment.
The hearing aid(s) you wear may not be used by the adult service so if your hearing aid breaks, it will be replaced with one it keeps in stock.
It is your responsibility to look after your hearing aid. The tubing should be changed every three to six months; this can be done at an appointment or at home. You can ask your audiologist to show you how to change the tubing or use the guide below.
Re-tubing your mould
Here are six steps to help you re-tube your earmould. If you would like to view how to change the tubing in your earmould visit the National Deaf Children’s Society website www.ndcs.org.uk
- Pull the old tubing out of the earmould. Do not throw it away as you will need it later.
- Cut the last 5cm (2 inches) of a pre-bent piece of tubing to a tapered end.
- Thread this through the earmould until it comes out the other end.
- Pull the tube until the bend reaches the mould. All the tapered section should have come through the other side.
- Cut the tapered tubing as close as possible to the earmould. Any tube sticking out could rub your ear and make it sore.
- Take the old piece of tubing you saved and line it up with the newly threaded tube. Cut the end to the same length.
- Push the end of tubing on to the plastic hook on your hearing aid.
- Make sure that it bends in the right direction.
What do I do if I lose my hearing aid?
It is important to look after your hearing aid(s) as it is NHS property that is on loan to you. It may cost you up to £140 before your hearing aid can be replaced with a new model.
If you need a replacement hearing aid, contact the adult service to make an appointment
Extra support
Teacher for the Hearing Impaired (ToD)
Your local ToD may still support you even after you move to the adult service. Please check with your ToD to find out how long they can help for.
Assistive listening devices
You may have been loaned an FM system while you were at school. Most of the time this belongs to the school, so now you are moving into a job or higher education, you will need to find something to help you hear better in different environments. Your local deaf services may help with this.
College or university
If you want to go to college or university, you need to get in touch with your university or college disability resource centre, which will give you all the information you need.
It will be able to tell you about Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) and other equipment or services which you might be entitled to.
Your ToD might be able to help as well, if you are still in contact.
Work
If the help you need at work is not covered by your employer making reasonable adjustments, you may be able to get help from Access to Work.
You’ll be offered support based on your needs, which may include a grant to help cover the costs of practical support in the workplace.
An Access to Work grant can pay for:
- special equipment, adaptations or support worker services to help you do things like answer the phone or go to meetings
- help getting to and from work.
You might not get a grant if you already get certain benefits.
Check your eligibility and apply at www.gov.uk/access-to-work
Contact us
0300 123 2670
kentchft.childhearing@nhs.net
Admin Team are available:
Monday, Thursday and Friday, 8am to 4.30pm
Tuesday and Wednesday, 8am to 5pm.
Do you have feedback about our health services?
0800 030 4550
8.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday
Text: 07899 903499
kentchft.PALS@nhs.net
kentcht.nhs.uk/PALS
Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust
Trinity House, 110-120 Upper Pemberton
Ashford
Kent
TN25 4AZ
Donate today, and help the NHS go above and beyond. Visit kentcht.nhs.uk/icare
If you need communication support or this information in another format, please ask a member of staff or contact us using the details above.