What we do
The Paediatric Audiology Service is delivered by a team of professionals with specialist training in assessing hearing and managing hearing loss in children. The service also has a newborn hearing screening team which screens babies at birth for hearing loss.
East Lancashire Paediatric Audiology Service is well established. The team comprises Clinical Scientists in Audiology, Audiologists, Assistant Practitioners in Audiology, and a Consultant Paediatrician with a special interest in Audiology. The clinical team is supported by an administration team.
We have a long history of undertaking diagnostic hearing assessments from newborns to young adults of school leaving age, 16 years or 19 years for those with additional needs. We also manage both temporary and permanent hearing losses.
We offer a wide range of assessments. Behavioural hearing assessments include distraction testing, visual reinforcement audiometry, performance audiometry, play audiometry, pure tone audiometry, and tests of speech discrimination. Objective hearing assessments include diagnostic auditory brainstem response testing, assessment of middle ear function and otoacoustic emission assessments.
We work closely with a multidisciplinary team of professionals including Ear Nose and Throat Consultants, Sensory Support Professionals, Speech and Language Therapists and Paediatricians. We also work with the adult audiology service to ensure a smooth transition for patients when they leave the paediatric service.
The quality of the Newborn Hearing Screening Programme is measured against key performance indicators (KPIs) on a quarterly basis and is routinely performing above the national average for these standards. Following our most recent quality assurance assessment, undertaken in 2016, the programme was identified as an ‘exemplary service’. We participate in an external peer review programme for diagnostic auditory brainstem response assessments.
We strive to offer a family friendly service offering appointments from 8.30am up to 5.00pm. All parents and carers receive a copy of their child’s audiological report following the appointment. We aim to provide hearing aid repairs and requests for earmould impressions within the nationally advised time guidelines.
We are involved in the training of audiology professionals and are happy to take requests from other professionals should they wish to observe our work to broaden their knowledge.
We are an open access service and parents/carers can contact the service to make a self-referral.
We accept referrals from any professionals who have concerns about a child’s hearing.
There is a standard referral form, or alternatively a written referral from professionals that includes all the necessary information is also accepted.
Please click here for the Referral Form
Newborn Hearing Screening programme for babies born in East Lancashire:
- Lancashire Women and Newborn Unit, Burnley General Teaching Hospital
- Burnley Birth Centre
- Blackburn Birth Centre
- Rossendale Birth Centre
Hearing Tests for children aged 0 to 16 years (extended to 19 years for those with learning difficulties):
- St Peters Centre, Burnley
- Accrington Victoria Community Hospital
- Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital
- Barbara Castle Way Health Centre, Blackburn
Hearing aid provision – fitting of hearing aids and regular monitoring of children using hearing aids:
- Accrington Victoria Community Hospital
- St Peters Centre, Burnley
- Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital
- Barbara Castle Way Health Centre, Blackburn
Specialist follow up for babies referred from the new born screen:
- St Peters Centre, Burnley
- Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital
All appointments at the above locations are outpatient.
Andrea Curran - Departmental Lead in Paediatric Audiology
Sarah Paddock - Local Manager for the Newborn Hearing Screening Programme
Laura Ingham - Clerical & Administration Manager
Luisa De Molfetta-Cookson - Highly Specialist Practitioner - Paediatric Hearing Aid Services
Michelle Ainsworth - Senior Paediatric Audiologist
Deborah Calvert - Senior Paediatric Audiologist
Sarah Aston - Senior Paediatric Audiologist
Charlene Richardson - Assistant Audiology Practitioner
Rose Moorhouse - Assistant Audiology Practitioner
Javed Iqbal - Highly Specialist Practitioner - Complex Case Management
Yvonne Lynch - Clinical Scientist in Paediatric Audiology
Somayya Lunat - Assistant Audiological Practitioner
Dr Bamford - Consultant Paediatrician (with a specialist interest in Audiology)
For any general enquiries or advice about our service please telephone 01282 805882
Email: PaedAud.NewReferrals@elht.nhs.uk
Office opening 8.45 am to 5.00 pm (4.30 Friday)
Clinic appointments from 8.30 am to 5 pm
East Lancashire Down Syndrome Support Group
National Deaf Children’s Society
NHS Newborn Hearing Screen Programme
Lancashire County Council Early Year’s Sensory Support
Lancashire County Council Sensory Support
Blackburn with Darwen council Support Service – Hearing Impairment
Lancashire County Council Rehabilitation Services and Support for sight, hearing loss or both
East Lancashire Children's Hearing Services Working Group (CHSWG)
Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)
https://www.rnib.org.uk/eye-health/sight-loss-and-other-conditions/dual-sensory-loss
Sense
For everyone living with complex disabilities and/or dual sensory impairment (hearing & vision)
British Tinnitus Association
Adult Audiology services in East Lancashire
https://elht.nhs.uk/services/audiology-hearing-balance
Glue ear guide for parents
https://www.ndcs.org.uk/documents-and-resources/glue-ear-a-guide-for-parents/