Children’s Hearing Tests in Swansea

If your child is mishearing, mispronouncing, watching faces instead of listening, or asking for the TV louder — your instincts are worth acting on.

BestHear runs paediatric hearing assessments in Swansea for children aged 3.5 years and older. The appointment is built around a child, not adapted from an adult one.

Paediatric Audiology BestHear Hearing Clinic Swansea

Why Early Detection Matters

Children develop language by listening. When even mild or one-sided hearing loss goes unnoticed, the consequences ripple into speech development, classroom learning, social confidence, and behaviour at home.

Most childhood hearing loss is treatable, especially when picked up early. The catch is that children rarely report what they cannot hear — they adapt around it. By the time a teacher or parent flags a problem, the gap has often been there for a while.

A proper paediatric hearing assessment closes that gap quickly.

What’s Included in the Appointment

  • Otoscopy — a visual check of each ear canal and eardrum, with imagery the parent can see
  • Tympanometry — checks middle-ear function and rules out glue ear, a common paediatric issue
  • Pure tone audiometry with insert earphones, calibrated to BSA standards and adapted for the child’s age and attention
  • Speech audiometry where appropriate — confirms how well the child is detecting words, not just tones
  • A written report suitable for the school, GP, paediatrician, or onward referral

Suitable from age: 3.5 years  |  Duration: 60 minutes  |  Fee: £150 (includes the written report)

How the Appointment Is Set Up for Children

Children are not small adults, and a paediatric audiology appointment should not be an adult appointment with the equipment turned down.

The room is set up to be calm. The pace is led by the child, not the clock. Game-style response tasks replace the simple button-press where appropriate. Parents are present throughout. Distress is rare because the appointment is built to avoid the things that cause it.

Signs Worth Booking For

  • Frequent “what?” or “pardon?” at home, especially when not facing you
  • Asking for the TV or tablet volume louder than the rest of the family
  • Mishearing or mispronouncing common words past the age peers have settled
  • Falling behind in school listening tasks despite no other learning concerns
  • Watching mouths intently to follow conversations
  • Recurrent ear infections, glue ear history, or grommet history
  • A teacher, family member, or paediatrician suggesting a hearing check

Who Carries Out the Assessment

Children’s hearing tests at BestHear are conducted by Armaj Ali, who holds dual registration with the HCPC as a Clinical Scientist in Audiology and with AHCS as a Hearing Aid Dispenser.

Mr Ali has close to two decades of clinical experience across the NHS and internationally, with extensive paediatric audiology training and ongoing scope of practice. Children at BestHear are assessed by the same specialist clinician who treats adults — to the same clinical standard, with the room set up for the child.

How to Book

  1. Book online or call 01792 940032
  2. Attend a 60-minute appointment with your child at BestHear, Swansea
  3. Leave with a written report and a clear plan — referral, monitoring, ear infection follow-up, or simple reassurance

If hearing aids turn out to be appropriate, paediatric Heareka™ fittings are also available — see paediatric audiology.

Frequently Asked Questions

From 3.5 years upward. Younger than that needs specialist paediatric audiology services with adapted equipment — speak to your GP or health visitor for the appropriate NHS pathway.

Most children find it interesting rather than scary. The room is set up calmly, the pace is led by the child, and parents are present throughout. The tasks are presented as games where appropriate.

A list of any concerns from teachers, family, or your GP. Any prior hearing or ENT records if you have them. The school’s hearing screening result if there has been one. Otherwise, just the child.

The written report explains exactly what was measured. Most childhood hearing loss is treatable; the report sets out a clear next-step plan, which may include referral to ENT, a follow-up assessment, or — if appropriate — paediatric hearing aids fitted using the Heareka™ methodology.

No. The hearing test is a diagnostic appointment. If aids are clinically indicated, that is a separate conversation, with no obligation to proceed at BestHear.

No. You can book directly. If the assessment shows referral is needed (sudden hearing loss, asymmetric loss, suspected infection, glue ear management), BestHear will write the referral letter for you.

Yes. BestHear is a private audiology clinic based in Swansea. The lead clinician is HCPC-registered as a Clinical Scientist in Audiology, with additional AHCS registration. All assessments follow British Society of Audiology guidance.