Audiology

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About this service

Audiology at the Royal Cornwall Hospital is a department that detects and diagnoses hearing problems, tinnitus and balance problems. We also help people of all ages manage their hearing impairments.

We offer a full range of hearing assessments and supply the latest high-quality digital hearing aids for free on the NHS.

We also provide specialised rehabilitation and offer help, information and advice about ways of managing your condition such as lip-reading, other communication tactics and specialist equipment for home and work.

Our highly experienced team of audiologists and hearing therapists and work closely with health services in the community and the Ear, Nose and Throat department (ENT) to offer outstanding service and support to our patients.

How can I get seen by the Audiology department?

You can call the audiology department and ask about our services; we are open from 8:30am to 4:30pm. If you have never had a hearing aid before you should speak to your GP first. The Audiology Department only provides care for adult patients with complex hearing loss and paediatric patients. We no longer provide routine audiology for those with age-related hearing loss aged 55 or over.

Contact information

• Telephone: 01872 253747 (8:30am to 4:30pm)
• Email: rcht.audiology@nhs.net
• Minicom: 01872 240892
• SMS: 07340 356773
• Service Manager: Clare Pitt
• Audiology Clinical Lead: Demelza Wake

Hearing aids workshop

• Telephone: 01872 253787 (9am to 4pm)

Hearing therapy

• Telephone: 01872 253744

Adult social care

Adult social care can provide support and equipment, such as TV adaptors, door bells, smoke alarms and alerting systems, to assist people with hearing impairment. There are also social workers who can support deaf and hard of hearing people, should you require any additional support. You can contact them via the access team using the details below:

• Telephone: 0300 1234 131
• Email: Referral.AccessTeam@cornwall.gcsx.gov.uk.

Where to find us

The Audiology department is located at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro.

From the main Trelawny entrance

From the main entrance continue down the corridor past WH Smiths and take the stairs or lift down to the ground floor. Turn left and continue onto the link corridor, turning left opposite the Emergency Department. Follow that corridor around and we’re on the left, before you get to Oral Surgery.

Other locations

Our specialist staff are able to assess and provide interventions for both adults and children at the following locations across Cornwall:

• Camborne and Redruth Community Hospital
• Falmouth Hospital
• Meneage Street Surgery, Helston
• West Cornwall Hospital, Penzance
• St Michaels Hospital, Hayle
• Bodmin Hospital
• St Austell Community Hospital

We may select the most appropriate location dependent on the needs of the patient and the type of assessment required as not all facilities are available at all locations. We will liaise with you to make sure the location is as convenient as possible.

Information about NHS hearing aids

The audiology department offers a range of digital hearing aids, which are all supplied free of charge. These hearing aids are some of the most sophisticated available today. They use the latest technology to give you excellent sound quality and work with the other devices.

Aftercare, replacement batteries and repairs

Both aftercare and replacement batteries are supplied free of charge and there is no time limit to this. It’s worth bearing in mind that if you lose your hearing aid, or damage it beyond repair due to carelessness, we may have to charge you for a replacement.

To request replacement batteries, tubes or domes, please contact us stating your name, date of birth and what items you require.

If your hearing aid is broken we offer a postal repair service. You can deliver your hearing aid to us here at Treliske and we will return it to you by post.

Please drop off your hearing aid at the main reception desk of the Trelawny Wing. Please package your hearing aid in an envelope including your name and contact details and a brief description of the problem.

Alternatively, please send your hearing aid via the Post Office (using the Signed for service) to ensure adequate postage. Please remember to include your name and contact details and a brief description of the problem. Send your aid to:

The Audiology Workshop, Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro, TR1 3LJ

If your need is urgent or you are unable to be without your hearing aid, please call the department.

Specialist hearing aids

We also offer Bone Anchored Hearing Aids, a specialist hearing aid which is suitable for people with a specific type of hearing loss. We are able to provide the assessment, surgery, wound care, fitting and after care. For more information please contact us on 01872 254907.

Find out more about Bone Anchored Hearing Aids.

Patient Information (Leaflets)

Click here for a list of our Patient Information Leaflets.

Professional careers in audiology

Click here to find out more about careers in audiology, or see the Trust’s current vacancies on our careers website.