Paediatric Audiologist

Job overview

Our paediatric audiology department supports NHS Newborn Hearing Screening Programme for births at The Hillingdon Hospital and offers a service to children from newborn to 18 years of age.

We specialise in the assessment (using behavioural and electrophysiological techniques) of neonates and older children, including children with complex, special needs or are generally challenging to test.

The post-holder will contribute, as appropriate to the assessment, habilitation and rehabilitation of children.

Main duties of the job

This involves the assessment, diagnosis, habilitation and rehabilitation of children referred to our service.

You will be responsible for a broad range of clinical activities; the majority of which are complex and demand a high degree of individual responsibility. You will also be involved in teaching & training, clinical & administrative audits and research.

The post-holder will be expected to maintain high clinical and professional standards at all times.  They will also be involved in service development and will be expected to be adaptive to change.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To perform daily clinical duties, while adhering to the departmental local and also national standards and protocols.

Independently assess children of developmental ages between 2-18 years using a range of behavioural and electrophysiological techniques as well as advanced tests of middle ear function. Occasionally assist senior paediatric audiologists as a second tester in more complex 2-tester clinics, which require the presence of 2 audiologists.

Monitor regularly audiological stock levels and on occasion order consumables and other supplies as necessary; provide figures for audit on a monthly basis.

Deal with anxious parents/guardians and their families during clinical sessions, ensuring that fears are allayed and that the child is in an optimal state for testing.

Ensure that patient support material and information is kept up-to-date e.g. leaflets and information on organisations for the hearing impaired child and family.

Select and fit digital hearing aids using NOAH and Affinity with Auditbase.  Fit hearing aids probe tube measures in children above 5 years of age.

Perform hearing aid first issues / review clinics for children above 5 years of age, both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.  Again depending on the child, these may be conducted single-handed or with another member of the team.

Support patients in their transition from children to adult audiology, work closely with the adult audiology team to ensure smooth transition. Occasional cover of adult audiology work may be required (e.g. providing paediatric audiology cover for ENT clinics)

Provide a Hearing Aid ‘Repair & Maintenance’ service to the hearing instruments in use by our paediatric patients.

Maintain accurate patient files on Auditbase including audiological assessments and rehabilitative results. Ensure that all newly diagnosed children have all their personal and clinical data recorded accurately.

Communication Communicate hearing assessment results, diagnosis and further management to carers/ parents of children (patients) including – when necessary - overcoming any language/ sensory disability/ communicational barriers.

Communicate with the Learning Support Service; to ensure the appropriate provision is in place for those children with special requirements, e.g. hearing aids and radio aids.

Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for a full list of role requirements and main responsibilities.