Hearing & Ear Health

Supporting Health, Wellbeing & Positive Futures Healthy hearing is important for communication, learning, employment, relationships, independence, and overall wellbeing. NHS hearing services provide assessment, treatment, rehabilitation, hearing aids, and specialist support for children and adults. This guide explains your rights, NHS services, legal protections, accessibility support, and practical advice for patients, parents, carers, and families. Emergency: Call 999 or go to Accident & Emergency (A&E) immediately if you have a serious head injury with hearing loss, severe ear trauma, sudden hearing loss after major injury, severe dizziness with stroke symptoms, or severe infection causing swelling behind the ear with confusion or collapse. For urgent ear problems that are not life-threatening, contact your GP, local pharmacy, or NHS 111. ( NHS 111 )

Understanding Hearing & Ear Health

Your ears are responsible for:

• Hearing
• Balance
• Communication
• Language development
• Learning
• Social interaction
• Safety awareness

Common hearing and ear problems include:

• Hearing loss
• Earwax build-up
• Ear infections
• Glue ear
• Tinnitus
• Balance disorders
• Vertigo
• Ruptured eardrum
• Noise-induced hearing loss

Early assessment often improves treatment outcomes.

Hearing Loss

Hearing loss may happen gradually or suddenly.

Common symptoms include:

• Difficulty hearing conversations
• Asking people to repeat themselves
• Turning the television up louder
• Difficulty hearing in noisy places
• Ringing in the ears
• Missing phone calls
• Delayed speech in children

Sudden Hearing Loss

Sudden hearing loss should always be treated as urgent.

Seek urgent assessment if hearing suddenly disappears or rapidly worsens in one or both ears, especially if accompanied by dizziness or tinnitus.

Ear Infections

Ear infections are common in both children and adults.

Symptoms may include:

• Ear pain
• Fever
• Temporary hearing loss
• Fluid discharge
• Irritability in children
• Poor feeding
• Difficulty sleeping
• Balance problems

Seek urgent medical advice if:

• Symptoms worsen rapidly
• Swelling develops behind the ear
• High fever continues
• Ear discharge lasts more than a few days
• Hearing does not improve
• A child becomes unusually drowsy or difficult to wake

Tinnitus

Tinnitus is hearing sounds such as:

• Ringing
• Buzzing
• Humming
• Clicking
• Whistling

These sounds may be constant or intermittent.

Support may include:

• Hearing assessment
• Hearing aids
• Sound therapy
• Tinnitus counselling
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Mental health support where appropriate

Hearing Aids

NHS hearing aids are available for people whose hearing assessment shows they would benefit.

NHS hearing services usually include:

• Hearing assessment
• Hearing aid fitting
• Repairs
• Batteries (where applicable)
• Follow-up appointments
• Ongoing review
• Advice on using hearing aids

Ask your audiology service about:

• Bluetooth compatibility
• Cleaning
• Batteries
• Maintenance
• Replacement process
• Accessibility adjustments

Audiology Services

Audiology departments provide assessment and treatment for:

• Hearing loss
• Tinnitus
• Balance disorders
• Children's hearing
• Hearing aid support
• Earwax advice (availability varies)
• Cochlear implant assessment where appropriate

Referral may come from:

• GP
• ENT specialist
• Paediatrician
• School hearing service
• Newborn hearing screening programme

Children's Hearing

Early hearing assessment is important because hearing affects:

• Speech
• Language
• Learning
• Reading
• Behaviour
• Social development

Parents should seek advice if a child:

• Does not respond to sounds
• Has delayed speech
• Frequently asks "what?"
• Turns the television up loudly
• Has repeated ear infections
• Appears inattentive
• Struggles at school

Children may receive:

• Newborn hearing screening
• Audiology assessment
• Speech and language therapy
• ENT review
• Hearing aids
• Educational support

Parents should:

• Keep copies of hearing reports.
• Inform school about hearing needs.
• Request classroom adjustments where needed.
• Attend follow-up appointments.

Legal Rights

Under the NHS Constitution for England, patients have rights to:

• Access NHS services
• Safe, effective care
• Dignity and respect
• Informed consent
• Confidentiality
• Access to health records
• Be involved in decisions
• Make complaints

Official:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-nhs-constitution-for-england

Equality & Accessibility Rights

People who are Deaf, deafened or hard of hearing may request reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010.

Examples include:

• British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter
• Speech-to-text reporting
• Hearing loop
• Text messaging
• Email communication
• Visual appointment systems
• Longer appointments
• Written instructions
• Accessible emergency procedures
• Carer or advocate support

The Accessible Information Standard requires NHS organisations to identify, record and meet people's communication needs.

Official:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/accessible-information-standard/

Evidence Standards

Keep copies of:

• Hearing test results
• Audiograms
• Hearing aid records
• Referral letters
• ENT clinic letters
• Medication records
• Symptom diary
• Tinnitus diary
• School reports (children)
• Appointment letters
• Complaint correspondence

Ask for:

• Audiogram copies
• Hearing assessment reports
• Clinic letters
• Treatment plans
• Follow-up schedule
• Referral information

Accountability

If you have concerns about NHS hearing services:

Step 1

Speak with:

• Audiologist
• ENT clinic
• GP
• Practice manager

Step 2

Contact Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) if hospital services are involved.

Step 3

Use the NHS complaints procedure.

Step 4

If unresolved, you may ask the:

Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman

Official:

https://www.ombudsman.org.uk

Advice for Parents

Parents should:

• Attend newborn hearing screening.
• Monitor speech and language development.
• Seek assessment early if concerned.
• Keep copies of audiology reports.
• Inform schools of hearing needs.
• Request reasonable adjustments where needed.
• Encourage consistent use of hearing aids if prescribed.

Practical Questions to Ask

• What is causing the hearing loss?
• Is it temporary or permanent?
• Do I need hearing aids?
• Will I need further tests?
• Is ENT referral required?
• What support is available at school or work?
• Can I receive information in accessible formats?
• What should I do if my hearing suddenly worsens?

Useful NHS & GOV.UK Resources

NHS Hearing Loss

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hearing-loss/

NHS Ear Infections

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ear-infections/

NHS Tinnitus

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/tinnitus/

NHS Hearing Aids

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hearing-aids-and-implants/

NHS 111

https://111.nhs.uk

Accessible Information Standard

https://www.england.nhs.uk/accessible-information-standard/

NHS Complaints

https://www.nhs.uk/contact-us/how-to-complain-to-the-nhs/

NHS Constitution

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-nhs-constitution-for-england

Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman

https://www.ombudsman.org.uk

Quick Checklist

✔ Seek urgent assessment for sudden hearing loss.
✔ Attend newborn and childhood hearing checks.
✔ Keep copies of hearing assessments and audiograms.
✔ Wear hearing aids as advised and attend follow-up appointments.
✔ Request communication support or reasonable adjustments if needed.
✔ Inform schools or employers about hearing needs where appropriate.
✔ Raise concerns early and use the NHS complaints process if care falls below expected standards.