Appendix 23 - Hearing and audiology pathway

Best Practice Guidance for the management of hearing issues in people with Down Syndrome

Guidance from the Down’s Syndrome Medical Interest Group: Basic Medical Surveillance Essentials: Hearing Impairment

Barnet checklist: From Consultant in paediatric audiovestibular medicine.

Possibly more than 50% of children with Down Syndrome have at least some degree of hearing loss. Some of those children/ young people require some treatment as it can have an impact on their speech and language development or ability to hear well in the classroom. 

Some of the hearing losses might not be obvious to parents or teachers and will require an assessment. These hearing losses might be only temporary, but some can be permanent and so the children and young people with Down Syndrome require regular hearing assessments until they leave school. Therefore we would like to see children:

  • Between 8 and 10 months 

  • between 15 and 18 months 

  • every year between the age of 2 and 5 years 

  • every 2 years from the age of 5 yrs on until leaves school / education.

Bone conduction hearing aids (BAHA) are something being considered eg a child who has recurrent “glue ear” and is only intermittently hearing what is going around him/her as it is fluctuating and this would therefore affect speech development.  BAHA can be useful whilst adopting the “watch and wait” model of care or waiting for any operation for the hearing like grommets. This can be discussed with the local audiology team.

Contact details and referrals:

We are a 2nd Tier Service for children aged 6 months-18 years who are registered with a Barnet CCG or Enfield CCG GP  (Referrals for SEND children in school with an EHC plan will be accepted up to 25 years)

Paper referrals are not accepted, please email the completed referral form to: paediatric.audiology@nhs.net

Referrals for children < 6 months’ need to be sent to:

Barnet

Royal National ENT Hospital, Huntley Street, London, WC1E 6DG: 020 3456 5160 or 020 3456 5144. uclh.paediatric.audiology@nhs.net uclh.paedsavm.enquiries@nhs.net

Enfield

St Ann’s Hospital, N15 3TH: whh-tr.stanns-audiology@nhs.net

More information:

For more information visit:
Children's Audiology (Hearing) Service (Whittington Hospital)

Webinar:

Hearing in children who have Down's syndrome: a webinar for parents with Mr Patrick Sheehan

In particular Mr Sheehan mentions ADHEAR BAHA for children who won't tolerate bands or get lots of wax from hearing aids.

Further information

ADHEAR Bone Conduction System

Children Hearing Aid Department (CHAD)

National Deaf Children's Society: Helpful information and interactive multimedia videos 

C2 Hear Online: Helpful information and interactive multimedia videos 

Cochlear Implant enquiries

Specialist Teams - Teachers of the Deaf

  • D&HS (Deaf & Hearing Support Team)

  • PD&CN (Physical Disability & Complex Needs Support Team)