Support for newly diagnosed babies with hearing loss
Each support programme for preschool children is designed to meet the individual needs of every child. The Newborn Hearing Screening Programme (NHSP) booklet that you have been given will explain about your baby’s hearing loss and the support that is available. This page has been designed to support the NHSP booklet. It gives details of who to contact locally for more information and explains the next steps for you and your baby within the Hearing Services department.
On this page
What happens next?
You will be contacted by the Advisory Teaching Service within 48 hours of the diagnosis of a hearing loss being made. Your baby will be allocated an Advisory Teacher who will support you and your baby.
It may be necessary to arrange further testing to allow us to get more detailed information about your baby’s hearing loss.
Once this information is available, an impression of the shape of your baby’s ear will be made and an appointment arranged to fit your baby with hearing aids. The Advisory Teacher allocated to your baby may be present at the time of the hearing aid fitting.
At first, frequent follow up appointments to the audiology department will be needed. These appointments will be arranged for every 3 months until your baby is 2½ years old.
After this the number of visits will vary with each child, usually reducing to about once every 6 months until your child is 5 years old. At this stage, we will normally try to arrange annual reviews to monitor your child’s hearing. This will depend on your child’s needs and may continue to be more frequent if it is felt appropriate.
Contact information
At every stage, the paediatric team will keep parents and the relevant professionals involved in the care of your baby’s hearing informed.
Please use the following information for names and details of those to contact for advice or information.
Audiology
Shakil Sumithra
Tel: 0300 422 8210
Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4:00pm
Email: ghn-tr.paediatric-hearing.svcs@nhs.net
A secure answering machine is available for you to leave a message. Your call will be returned as soon as possible.
Community Paediatrician
Dr Kate Lamb
Tel: 0300 422 5700
(Secretary: Helen Walker)
Tuesday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm
Email: helen.walker35@nhs.net
Advisory Teaching Service (term time)
Tel: 01452 426955
Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4:00pm
Email: gloucester.ats@gloucestershire.gov.uk
NHSP Team Leader
Kiki Mak
Tel: 0300 422 5514
(Secretary Sharon Ridler)
Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm
A secure answering machine is available for you to leave a message. Your call will be returned as soon as possible.
Further information
Gloucestershire Advisory Teaching Service
Website: www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/ats
Gloucester Deaf Association
Website: www.gda.org.uk
National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS)
Website: www.ndcs.org.uk