Our audiology team is here to help patients manage hearing or balance difficulties, with or without the use of assistive listening devices such as hearing aids.
We also investigate the causes of hearing loss and balance problems in support of the ENT department. Our audiologists provide hearing rehabilitation, along with the fitting and maintenance of hearing aids where appropriate.
Many of our services offer video calls as a more convenient way of having an appointment with one of our healthcare professionals. This reduces the need for you to attend the hospital physically.
If you have an appointment letter with a video appointment link and instructions, please read more on our Video appointments page.
Sudden hearing loss (or a sudden change in hearing) can have different causes, some of which may benefit from urgent investigation and specialist treatment.
If you have a sudden hearing loss, (over a period of 3 days or less) you should arrange to be seen by your GP or in your local emergency department.
Your local ENT service can then be contacted to arrange tests and any appropriate treatment.
The Adult Hearing Centre assesses hearing and balance as well as fitting and maintaining hearing devices. We also work alongside ENT to provide hearing and balance testing.
All adult patients currently wearing NHS hearing aids do not need a GP referral but can contact us directly for advice or to book an appointment at any of our main hospitals and satellite sites – please choose the relevant site for your location:
Basildon - call 01268 394732 or email mse.adminaudiology@nhs.net or by post at Adult Hearing Centre, Level C Jubilee Wing, Basildon Hospital SS16 5NL.
This includes patients that were fitted with an NHS hearing aid elsewhere and have now moved into our area.
Broomfield - call 01245 513237 or email mse.broomfieldaudiology.info@nhs.net.
We also offer appointments at the clinics below which need to be booked through the main Audiology department in Chelmsford for:
St Peters Hospital, Maldon - open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Braintree Community Hospital - open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Southend - call 01702 385019 or email mse.audiology@nhs.net.
We offer appointments at the clinics below, all of which need to be booked directly through our audiology department:
Referral criteria:
If you are housebound, you can be seen by an audiologist in your own home or care home, but we need an initial GP referral through email.
Hearing therapy works closely with audiology to provide hearing therapy, counselling, and support for patients with hearing loss, tinnitus, and balance problems.
Hearing therapy referrals can only be accepted from Audiology or ENT. If you have an appointment or a question, please contact:
Basildon - mse.adminaudiology@nhs.net
Broomfield - mse.broomfieldaudiology.info@nhs.net
Southend - mse.audiology@nhs.net.
The service provides assessment for babies and children up to the age of 18. Children with complex needs can remain under the service until the age of 24 if required.
An extensive rehabilitation service for those requiring hearing aids is provided with ongoing support and monitoring for the period of time the hearing aid is needed. This includes children who move into the area whose hearing aids are fitted elsewhere.
The service works closely with Education colleagues to support children in the use of their hearing aids.
The service is also responsible for the provision of Newborn hearing screening on the maternity ward or at outpatient clinics
Referrals are accepted from GP’s, ENT service and Paediatricians. Should Health Visitors and Speech Language Therapists require a hearing assessment for a child, parents will need to request a referral from their GP.
Call 01268 394926 or email mse.hearcare@nhs.net.
Location: Children’s Hearing Centre, Level D, Maternity Block, Basildon Hospital, Nethermayne, Basildon, Essex, SS16 5NL.
The paediatric children’s service provides diagnostic assessments of hearing function on all babies and children until the age of 18, or until full time education finishes with intensive rehabilitation for babies and children requiring hearing aids.
The service works closely with eduction colleagues to support children in the use of their hearing aids.
If you need to get in contact, please email mse.broomfieldaudiology.info@nhs.net.
We aim to provide a high-quality, efficient and friendly service for all children with suspected audio-vestibular and communication disorders in order for them to achieve their full potential.
All children with hearing concerns will need to be referred to either the ENT department or to the paediatric audiology clinic at the Lighthouse Child Development Centre.
Babies tested through the newborn hearing screening program will be referred directly to our audiology team where required.
Hearing aids should have the tubing replaced approximately every 6 months. Replacement tubing can be sent by post if you feel able to replace your tubing yourself. Please contact us using the contact details above.
If you need help with replacing your tubing or need a repair on your hearing aid, an appointment can be made at either Orsett or Basildon Hospital using the contact details above.
You can also post your aids in for repair - you will need to provide a large letter stamp for return postage. Hearing aids should be sent to Adult Hearing Centre, Level C Jubilee Wing, Basildon Hospital, SS16 5NL.
Batteries can be collected at any of the following locations. Each battery can be expected to last between 5 and 10 days. You will be given two packs of batteries per hearing aid. Please take your battery record card when collecting batteries:
If you need help with replacing your tubing or need a repair on your hearing aid, an appointment can be made at either Broomfield, St Peters or Braintree Community Hospital using the contact details above. This is an adult only service.
We also have a postal service. You can send for new tubing, slim tubes and batteries. You can also send your aids in for repair. You will need to provide a large letter stamp for return postage.
Audiology Dept, A101, Broomfield Hospital, Court Rd, Chelmsford, CM1 7ET.
You will be able to collect batteries from the following locations on production of your brown book or issue card:
Patients will need to provide their hearing aid record book/card.
We also have a postal service. Patients can send for new tubing, batteries or send their aids in for repair. They will need to provide a large letter stamp for return postage.
NHS Hearing aid batteries can now be collected from the following clinics/libraries: