What happens on the transfer clinic?

Who is the leaflet for? What is its aim?

This leaflet is for all teenagers who are about to start or have recently started having their audiology review appointments on the ‘transfer clinic’. The leaflet explains what happens on the clinic and aims to answer frequently asked questions.

Introduction

From around the age of 15, most young people have their review appointments on the ‘transfer clinic’. The aim of the clinic is to prepare the young person for the Adult Audiology service and also to provide support as they move into further education, higher education and/or the workplace. The final transfer to the adult service will not take place until the person is ready, usually once they have left full-time education.

Will my hearing aids be changed?

Your hearing aid(s) may be changed if you have been wearing them for a long time and they are no longer current / have become obsolete. If this is the case, upgrading them whilst within the transfer clinic should prevent you from having to be reassessed immediately after you start out under the adult service. Before any changes are made, there will be a chance for you to discuss any concerns and preferences you may have. The same hearing aids (including colour choices) are available to the adult service as are available to the paediatric service based on the individual’s preferences.

How long will I be seen on the transfer clinic for?

You will be reviewed on the transfer clinic at least once every 24 months, usually once every 12 months; until you are ready to transfer to the adult service. This usually takes 2-4 years but the ‘transfer time’ is different for everyone.

Who will I be seen by?

You will be seen by a paediatric audiologist who specialises in the transfer clinic.

Some young adults with additional needs will transfer to the Adults with Learning Disabilities clinic. This clinic is led by an adult audiologist who specialises in seeing patients with additional needs. If the young person is usually seen by two audiologists, this can be facilitated on the Adult with Learning Disabilities Clinic.

Transfer clinic aims and activities

During your time on the transfer clinic, your transfer audiologist will aim to:

• Ensure that your hearing aids are fitted optimally and that your aids will be serviceable by the adult team
• Ensure that you are confident using and servicing your hearing aids independently
• Review the aetiological investigations (investigations that you have had to look into the cause of your hearing loss) that you have accessed to-date and offer referral as appropriate for any other investigations that may be of interest to you
• Provide signposting and information about local and national organisations offering services, support and opportunities for children and young people with hearing loss
• Provide support (and supporting information / documentation as required) as you move through further education, higher education and/or into the workplace
• Review and offer advice regarding hearing equipment for you and for your home as you begin to live more independently
• Provide written information about the Adult Audiology service, including contact information and how access a range of different appointments

Contacts/Further information

Audiology Department

Phone: 01223 217797

E-mail Audiology

Audiology

NDCS (National Deaf Children’s Society)

Phone: 020 7490 8656 (Text: 0786 00 22 888

E-mail NDCS

Free phone helpline: 0808 800 8880

National Deaf Children’s Society (opens in a new tab)

Hearing aid repairs and maintenance:

C2Hear online videos provide useful information on how to clean and maintain your hearing aids. These can be accessed by searching ‘C2Hear Videos’ on YouTube.

RNID (The Royal National Institute for Deaf People; hearing loss information and specialist equipment for hearing aids):

RNID (opens in a new tab)

British Tinnitus Association (tinnitus information and specialist equipment):

British Tinnitus Association (opens in a new tab)

Access to Work (provision of specialist equipment and specialist support for individuals in the work place):

Website: Access to Work (opens in a new tab)

Disabled Student's Allowance (provision of specialist equipment and specialist support for students):

Disabled students allowances (opens in a new tab)

University and Colleges Admissions Service (opens in a new tab)

Disability rights UK (opens in a new tab)

Personal Independence Payments (Personal Independence Payment (PIP) can help you with some of the extra costs if you have a long term ill-health or disability):

Personal Independence Payments (opens in a new tab)

References/sources of evidence

NDCS Quality Standards: Transition from paediatric to adult audiology services: Guidelines for professionals working with deaf children and young people