We support adults and children in Dorset with hearing loss and balance difficulties.
Our staff see people at clinics across Dorset, for hearing assessments, hearing aid fittings, follow-ups and repairs, tinnitus counselling and balance assessments.
If you are aged under 50 and are concerned about your hearing, speak to your GP in the first instance. If you are aged 50 or over, and are registered with a Dorset GP, you can self-refer directly to us for help. Please read the information below.
Children and babies are referred to us through the newborn hearing screening programme, GPs, health visitors, school nurses and paediatricians.
Age-related hearing loss is common and treatable, and our service is here to help. However, you should not self-refer if you have:
- suffered rapid or sudden hearing loss (within the last 90 days)
- persistent or recurrent ear pain and/or ear infection (unless already managed by your GP or other healthcare professional)
- hearing that is notably worse in one ear compared to the other (unless previously investigated by specialists)
- hearing that fluctuates, other than with colds
- tinnitus issues - either in one ear, tinnitus that pulsates or which is notably distressing
- an intolerance to loud sounds that is notably distressing.
In these cases, please contact your GP.
If you are unable to leave your home and cannot use hospital transport, you should also contact your GP, who can look into arranging audiology care in your home.
Self-referral
Before contacting our services, you should have your ears checked by a healthcare professional to make sure your hearing loss is not caused by something simple like ear wax or an ear infection. If your ears are blocked by wax, visit our ear wax information page for advice on how to deal with this.
If your ears are clear of wax and none of the above issues apply to you, can submit a self-referral form via our secure online portal.
If you need help with completing this form, ask a friend or family member. Alternatively, you can ask your GP practice to refer you to us in the usual way.
What happens after you refer yourself?
Once we receive your referral it will be vetted and, if the details are complete and appropriate, we will contact you to book your hearing assessment.
If your details are not complete, we will contact you to let you know further information is required.
Waiting time is around six weeks for your first appointment, although sometimes this can be longer. Visit our appointments page for further information about what happens next.
Please contact us if you require further information.
Key information about this service
Canford Heath Health Clinic
Wi-Fi: No
Parking: Yes
Disabled access: Yes
NHS Healthcare Centre - Dolphin Centre Poole
Wi-Fi: No
Parking: Yes
Disabled access: Yes
Park Centre - Weymouth
Wi-Fi: No
Parking: Yes
Disabled access: Yes
Shelley Road - Boscombe
Wi-Fi: Yes
Parking: Yes
Disabled access: Yes
The Adam Practice - Upton Health Centre Poole
Wi-Fi: No
Parking: Yes
Disabled access: Yes
Wi-Fi: Yes
Parking: Yes
Disabled access: Yes
Weymouth Hospital - Weymouth
Wi-Fi: Yes
Parking: Yes
Disabled access: Yes