B
BUDDSBarnet Unified Document
for Down Syndrome

Hearing and Audiology Pathway

50%+ prevalence of hearing loss, regular assessment schedule from 8 months, bone conduction hearing aids (BAHA/ADHEAR), grommets for glue ear, and specialist support services

Best Practice Guidance for the Management of Hearing Issues

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 their 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 ages of 2 and 5 years.
  • Every 2 years from the age of 5 years on until leaving 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:

More Information

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

Webinar

Hearing in children who have Down Syndrome, a webinar for parents with Mr Patrick Sheehan.

In particular, Mr Sheehan mentions ADHEAR Baha for children who won't tolerate bands or experience excessive wax buildup 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):