Frequently Asked Questions Before Booking
We know that bringing your child for a hearing test can feel daunting, especially if your child has specific communication needs. Here are clear, clinical answers from our Clinicial Governance Lead & Paediatric Audiologist, Mr. Donald Gordon, to the questions parents ask us most.
Parent's Common Inquiry:
"Before I proceed with the booking, I have one question regarding the testing process. My child is currently non-verbal. Since their ability to follow instructions is currently limited, I wanted to understand how the test is conducted when a child may not be able to respond to prompts or indicate when they hear a sound. Could you please let me know how you typically manage these sessions to ensure an accurate assessment?"
We completely understand your concerns; there are always some children we see in our clinic who are non-verbal or find it difficult to follow instructions, and our clinical environment is set up to support them.
To answer your question regarding how we manage the session: we do not rely solely on a child needing to indicate when they hear a sound.
Our paediatric assessments are entirely adaptable and child-led. We combine relaxed, play-based listening games with visual reinforcement to keep your child comfortable.
Objective tests (such as assessing the movement of the eardrum or inner ear responses) require no active participation or verbal response from your child at all.
We spend the initial part of the session simply letting them adapt to the room and building trust at their own pace.
Because every child's developmental needs are unique, we do not use a rigid, one-size-fits-all protocol. Instead, we will be sending over our policy and some questions for you which you will need to respond to prior to the consultation. This allows us to understand your child’s specific routines and comfort levels so we can tailor the session precisely to them.
Paediatric hearing appointments typically last between 45 to 60 minutes. We build in plenty of buffer time so your child never feels rushed or overwhelmed.
What to bring & prepare:
- Your child’s favourite toy, comforter, or tablet for downtime.
- Any previous hearing test results or letters from speech therapists/ENT doctors.
- Ensure you have completed your online pre-consultation routine questionnaire prior to your visit.
Yes, absolutely. Following the assessment, our audiologist will discuss the findings with you in plain language on the same day.
You will also receive a comprehensive written clinical report including audiograms, middle ear impedance readings, and tailored recommendations that can be shared directly with your GP, ENT specialist, speech therapist, or SENCO team.
No GP referral is necessary. Parents can self-refer and book directly online or by phone. However, if your child is currently under an ENT consultant or speech therapist, we welcome any existing referral notes so we can align our diagnostic approach.
This is completely normal and something we accommodate daily! We never force equipment or headphones onto a distressed child.
We can test using speakers in the room, gentle soft-tip tympanometers, or break the session into short play intervals. Our room is designed to feel like a relaxed play space rather than a cold medical clinic.
Ready to schedule your child's hearing test?
Our clinical team is ready to support your child with care, patience, and expert diagnostics.
Have Questions Before Booking?
Waves Hearing Paediatric Support
My child is non-verbal. How is the test managed?
We do not rely solely on verbal responses. We use child-led play games paired with objective clinical tests requiring zero active participation!
Do we need a GP referral?
No, parents can self-refer directly!