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Audiology
Audiology is the discipline concerned with assessment and treatment of hearing and balance disorders in adults and children.
Hearing loss can be present from birth, or can be acquired, and it is also a normal feature of the ageing process. Hearing loss can affect your ability to hear speech clearly so the early identification of a hearing loss may lead to hearing aid fitting, which can considerably improve the ability to hear speech clearly and make communication easier. Sometimes, certain types of hearing loss may benefit from bone anchored hearing aids (BAHA) or cochlear implants (CI).
Tinnitus is a sound that is produced by your hearing system, often alongside a hearing loss. It affects around 1 in 10 people, but is not commonly a sign of any disease. For most people it gets better on its own over time. Sound enrichment can help with making tinnitus less noticeable.
The inner ear is also responsible for our balance, as well as our hearing. Disorders of the ear can sometimes lead to dizziness and imbalance. A specialised audiology service will provide balance assessment and rehabilitation for people whose dizziness is caused by their inner ears.
What does Cardiff and Vale offer?
Hearing assessment for adults is available in the outpatients department, although exception is made for housebound patients, and also currently to those shielding due to Covid-19. Paediatric hearing assessment is offered largely as outpatient appointments at the Noah’s Ark children’s hospital. Some community clinics are planned to resume, having ceased at the onset of the Covid-19 period.
Patients with dizziness or balance problems are initially triaged by phone or video consultation, and then assessed in the outpatient clinic.
If you need help with hearing difficulties or dizziness, contact your GP or other healthcare provider who can refer you.
Contact details
If your hearing aid needs to be repaired, or you need to contact the department,
please see the contact details below:
Audiology Department
Clinic 9 Outpatients
University Hospital of Wales
Heath Park
Cardiff
CF14 4XW
Telephone: 02921 843179 or email the team.
