Referrals

Please send referrals via the RIO Audiology Triage or via Email to Audiology@nelft.nhs.uk. We prefer that referrals are paperless rather than posted. Should you need to contact us about a referral please do so on the details given above.

Criteria:  Children with a GP in Barking and Dagenham, Havering or Brentwood. Children with hearing difficulties.

Please see below for guidance on when to refer to Audiology:

• Child has not had a newborn screen in UK (For those born at Queens Hospital check RIO hearing screen results).
• Moved into the area with a known hearing loss or hearing aid.
• Professional concerns that child is not responding to sounds, even those they have a particular interest in.
• Parental concerns child is mis-hearing or unable to locate sounds.
• Bothersome tinnitus.
• Balance problems over the age of 7 years.
• Moved into the area with know medical risk factor for hearing loss should be referred (for example Bacterial Meningitis, Cleft Palate, confirmed Congenital Cytomegalovirus, Microtia/ Atresia, Osteogenesis Imperfecta, Sickle Cell Disease, Trisomy 21).

Below are not suitable criteria:

• All children should have a hearing screen at birth and again at school at age 5 years, please check if the child has recently had a normal hearing test in the last 12 months before considering a referral.
• Realistic expectations about speech development need to be considered before a referral to audiology, please see Redbook for guidance.
• A person over the age of 18 years can have a hearing test at Adult services please see BHR Hospital website for details Audiology | BHR Hospitals
• GP for NELFT services in B&D, Havering or Brentwood. Redbridge Audiology can be contacted on bhnt.paediatricaudiologywx@nhs.net
• Gaurdian consent needs to be on record to bring the child for the assessment.