GP Information Booklet The Hearing Centre/ Audiology Tameside Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Tel:0161 922 6381 Fax:0161 922 6650 Email:hearing@tgh.nhs.uk www.tamesidehospital.nhs.uk
Contents Page 1. Who are we? 2. Our Services 3. Multi-Disciplinary Services 4. How To Refer 5. Hearing Aids 6. Appendix 1- Patient Care Pathway 7. Appendix 2 - Referral Criteria 8. Appendix 3 Open Access Clinic List
Who are we? Our Team 1 Lead Audiologist (Amanda Saxon) 4 Senior Audiologists 5 Audiologists 2 Assistant Technical Officers (ATO) 2 Receptionists We have close links with The University of Manchester and have students working with us Base Audiology - The Hearing Centre Yellow Suite Hartshead Building North Tameside and Glossop Intergrated Care NHS Foundation Trust Fountain Street Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 9RW Qualifications & Experience Qualified via the BAAT, BSc or MSc Audiology training routes Continuing Professional Development 1
Our Services General Services Hearing Assessments Hearing Aid Fittings Follow-Up Appointments Hearing Aid Repairs Specialist Services G.P Direct Referrals Diagnostic Testing for ENT Vestibular Testing Speech Testing Tinnitus Management Complex Needs - dual sensory loss, learning disabled, dementia etc. BSER (Brain Stem Evoked Responses) - Adults and Children Onward testing for Newborn Hearing Screening Wax Suction Clinic (Complex cases are referred to the Nurse Led Clinic) Furthermore Well established community service to health centres in Tameside and Glossop (See Appendix 3, Open Access Clinic List) Domiciliary Visits Ward Visits at Tameside Hospital 2
Multi-Disciplinary Services Currently our department works very closely with: ENT Department Nurse Led Clinic - Wax clearance Dr Marsden - Associate Specialist Paediatrician (Audiology) Education - Teacher of the Deaf (ToD) Social Services ENT Department We perform various diagnostic assessments for our ENT colleagues Nurse Led Clinic We can provide a referral for wax clearance (We have our own suction clinic but for more complex cases i.e. mastoid cavities, we will refer to Nurse Led Clinic) Dr Marsden - Associate Specialist Paediatrician (Audiology) Assisting with testing neonates, babies and children Fitting hearing aids Education Teacher of the Deaf (ToD) Liaise to ensure children cope within the school environment Social Services Social Services can provide help and advice on adaptations in the home 3
How To Refer Referral is quite simple See Appendix 2, Referral Criteria To Simplify.. No WAX or DISCHARGE Over 18 Bilateral hearing loss No perforations No unilateral or disabling tinnitus No vertigo No sudden loss Write a referral letter or complete a referral form and send to The Hearing Centre via post, fax, e-mail (thft.audiology@nhs.net) or Choose and Book Please specify where the patient would like to be seen Upon receiving the referral we will send for the patient within 16 working days If any contra-indications are identified we will inform you, and also of any further action which is required If hearing aids are required we will make arrangements to fit them within 20 working days of the initial assessment 4
Hearing Aids Latest state of the art digital hearing aids Adults Oticon, Phonak and Starkey hearing aids Paediatrics - Oticon, Phonak and Starkey hearing aids Hearing aids are individually programmed through a computer, to the person s hearing test Hearing tests are recommended every 3 years There are different ear fittings which can be fitted dependent on the type of loss; ear moulds or open fits Programmes can be added to enhance listening in different environments. These are activated by the Audiologist after discussing the patients individual requirements The Audiologist will have in depth discussions before and after the hearing aid fitting. Each person is treated with a holistic approach. 5
Appendix 1 Patient Care Pathway GP Audiology ENT Hearing Assessment Hearing Aid Fitting Follow-Up 3 Year Recall Audiological Diagnostic Testing Speech Testing Vestibular Testing Tinnitus Management 6
Appendix 2 Referral Criteria British Academy of Audiology Guidelines for Referral to Audiology of Adults with Hearing Difficulty (aged 18+) If these contra-indications are picked up by yourselves a referral to ENT is firstly required. If they are later identified by Audiology we will advise you to refer the patient onto ENT. Contra-indications for Referral: History: Persistent pain affecting either ear History of discharge other than wax from either ear within the last 90 days Sudden loss or sudden deterioration of hearing (sudden=within 72 hours, in which case send to A&E or Urgent Care ENT clinic) Rapid loss or rapid deterioration of hearing (rapid=90 days or less) Fluctuating hearing loss, other than associated with colds Unilateral or asymmetrical, or pulsatile or distressing tinnitus lasting more than 5 minutes at a time or troublesome, tinnitus which may lead to sleep disturbance or be associated with symptoms of anxiety or depression Hyperacusis Abnormal auditory perceptions (dysacuses) Altered sensation or numbness to the face or facial droop Vertigo which has not fully resolved or which is recurrent 7
Appendix 3 Open-Access Clinic List Open-Access clinic for re-tubes and battery collection Albion Drive DROYLSDEN Ann Street DENTON Dewsnap Lane DUKINFIELD George Street GLOSSOP Hattersley Rd East HATTERSLEY Union Street HYDE Market Street MOSSLEY Waterloo Road STALYBRIDGE Primary Care Centre ASHTON Every 2 nd & 4 th Fri 1.30-3.30pm Every 2 nd & 4 th Wed 1.30-3.30pm Every 3 rd Wed 9.30-11.30am Every Fri 2.00-4.00pm Every 2 nd Wed 9.30-11.30am Every 1 st & 3 rd Tues 9.30-11.30am Every 4 th Fri 9.30-11.30am Every 1 st Tues 1.30-3.30pm Every 3 rd Mon 9.30-11.30am 8