Adult Hearing and Balance (Audiology)

Wearing a mask

The Heuser Hearing Institute have a step by step guide on how to wear a mask if you wear a behind the ear style hearing aid.

Read the mask guide from the Heuser Hearing Institute website (opens new browser tab) 

Face covering tips and information

The UK Action On Hearing Loss has information and tips about how to wear face coverings if you:

Are deaf or have hearing loss

Are the partner, relative, friend or carer of someone who is deaf or has hearing loss

Want to support people who are deaf or have hearing loss to communicate

Visit the Action On Hearing Loss website (opens new browser tab) 

Visiting us

You do not need to wear a mask or face covering when you visit the department at present.

Please contact us if you have any questions.

When you’re referred to us, we’ll arrange your first appointment

This will be an opportunity to talk with us about any hearing, balance or tinnitus difficulties you’re having.

We’ll examine your ears and perform a hearing test and create your personal treatment plan.

We may offer you a hearing aid/ or refer you to one of our other specialist teams.

We support people of all ages. 

Contact our CYPF Hearing and Balance service if you need advice for anyone aged 17 or under.

You can contact us if you need further support after your first appointment.

We can also help you understand results if you're not sure what they mean.

Email HearingandBalance@berkshire.nhs.uk

Call 0300 365 6222

Find out more

You can find more support and advice on how to improve your hearing in our guides. We’ve also included contact details for local and national charities and councils.

Read our guide on helping your hearing

Read our guide on finding further support

We can help you if you have a hearing problem.

Read this list to check if you might have a hearing problem.

• I don’t always hear when someone calls my name
• I watch someone’s face or hands very closely to see what they’re saying
• I can hear some people’s voices better than others
• I have difficulty hearing conversations in a group or in noisy places
• I sit very close to the TV and turn up the volume
• I feel surprised or scared by people coming close to me because I haven’t heard them properly
• I get upset by loud noises
• I speak very quietly or loudly, even if the place is quiet
• I have an unusual or unpleasant smell coming from my ears 

Do not worry if you have any of these symptoms.

We can suggest ways to make your hearing better.

Our learning disabilities team (CTPLD) may also be able to help.

Visit our CTPLD service webpage

You can also find help from your local councils and charities:

• Visit Hearing and Learning Disabilities Special Interest Group (HALD) website (opens new browser tab)
• Visit Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) support with Bracknell Forest Council website (opens new browser tab)
• Visit National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) website (opens new browser tab)

Appointments

We are only open for appointments. Please do not visit us if you do not have an appointment. This includes device repairs.

If you’re waiting for a hearing assessment, we’ll contact you either by phone or email.

To help us, we’ll ask you for your email and send you a questionnaire about your medical and ear history before you attend.

Our Audiology department is based at King Edward VII (KEVII) Hospital in Windsor. However, we also run clinics from other sites including St Mark’s Hospital, Upton Hospital, Skimped Hill Health Centre, and Wexham Park Hospital. Parking is available at all our sites.

Current patients

If you're an existing hearing aid patient of ours, you can contact us if you feel you need another appointment and still meet the referral criteria.

Call 0300 365 6222

Email hearingandbalance@berkshire.nhs.uk 

Children, Young People, and Families (CYPF) service

If you’re under the age of 18 you can be referred to us by your GP, ENT, health visitor, school nurse or speech therapist.

Visit our CYPF Hearing and Balance service page (opens new browser tab)

Contact us

Call 0300 365 6222

Press option 1 if you need help with hearing aid repairs.

Press option 2 if you have received a letter from us asking you to book an appointment.

Email hearingandbalance@berkshire.nhs.uk

Contact times

Our phone lines and reception desk are open 8am until 4pm, Monday to Friday.

Hearing devices can improve your ability to hear sounds in your day to day life.

Don’t worry if you’ve never used them before. We offer hearing aid fittings, device repairs and guidance on how you can maintain your hearing aid. 

Repairs and replacement parts

All hearing aid repairs are by appointment only. We do not offer walk in repairs.

Please contact us if you wish to book a repair.

If you require batteries or tubes please contact us and we’ll post them out to you.

We’re experiencing a high volume of calls, so please expect a slight delay.

Call 0300 365 6222

Email HearingAidRepairs@berkshire.nhs.uk

Follow up support

We’ll arrange a review appointment with you 4 to 8 weeks after your fitting to see how you’re getting on. We can do this either by call, video chat or through a face to face visit at one of our clinics. 

Hearing device aftercare, and replacement batteries, tubing and domes

Contact our team to book an aftercare appointment, and to request replacement parts. 

Call 0300 365 6222 and press option 1

Email HearingAidRepairs@berkshire.nhs.uk

Find out more

You can find more information about hearing aids on the NHS and Hearing Link websites 

Find out more about hearing aids on the NHS website (opens new browser tab)

Find out more about hearing loops (T-loops) on the Hearing Link website (opens new browser tab) 

Instruction guides and videos

GN Resound Ambio Hearing aid

Find videos on how to insert and manage the controls of your aid on the resound website

Visit the Danalogic website (opens new browser tab)

You can find hearing aid and Bemore App instruction booklets on the GN website, and videos on the GN Training YouTube channel

Find patient support materials on the danalogic website (opens new browser tab)

Visit GN Training UK YouTube channel (opens new browser tab) 

Sivantos Hearing Teneo Hearing Aid

Watch videos on using and looking after your Sivantos Hearing Teneo device, and using the touchControl App

Visit the Signia-Hearing website (opens new browser tab) 

How to care for your hearing aids

Find helpful videos on using and looking after your hearing aid, from the c2hearonline website

Visit the c2hearonline website (opens new browser tab)

Tinnitus is a noise you may hear in one or both ears, or in your head, when there isn’t external noise around you. It’s commonly described as a ringing, buzzing, whistling, cracking, humming or rushing sound.

Tinnitus itself is not a disease, but it can start suddenly or develop gradually over time. You may notice it more when you’re in a quiet room, trying to sleep or you’re under stress.

If you’re experiencing tinnitus talk to your GP. If you’re referred to us, we'll help you to manage your symptoms to reduce the impact it has on your life.

Read more about the causes and symptoms of tinnitus from NHS website (opens new browser tab)

You can find more information about support groups in our tinnitus guide.

Read our Tinnitus support leaflet (pdf)

The vestibular system is a part of your inner ear which helps control your balance. Together with your other senses, these organs help keep your balance.

If this part of your inner ear becomes damaged through age or other health conditions, it may mean you feel dizzy or that everything around you is moving or spinning (vertigo).  

If you’re experiencing these symptoms, contact your GP. If they refer you to us, we can offer balance tests and treatment to suit your needs.

Balance clinic leaflets

Read our Initial Balance Assessment leaflet (pdf)

Read our Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) leaflet (pdf)

Read our Caloric Test leaflet (pdf)

Read our Vestibular-evoked Myogenic Potential (VEMP) test leaflet (pdf)