The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Audiology Centre has a team of hearing therapists with specialised skills. The role of the hearing therapist is to provide a comprehensive rehabilitation service to adults with acquired hearing difficulties, tinnitus or balance problems.

A variety of methods may be used to help improve a patient’s ability to manage their individual problems, enabling them to participate fully in their daily lives.

These include:

• introduction to lip-reading and communication training
• listening practice following hearing aid fitting and/or cochlear implantation
• counselling for tinnitus, balance problems and hearing loss
• balance rehabilitation
• tinnitus management
• advice on environmental equipment
• deaf awareness training

Patients may be referred by their GP, audiologist or ear, nose and throat (ENT) consultant.