In this section
Hearing loss affects 1 in 7 people in the UK. It can affect people of all ages and can have a significant impact on a person’s family, social, and work lives.
Audiology is the diagnosis and rehabilitation of hearing and balance difficulties and often has strong links with ear, nose and throat medicine. If you are referred to an Audiology department, you will be seen by an Audiologist. Audiologists are highly trained healthcare professionals, many with specialist areas of experience within Audiology.
The Central Manchester Audiology team are dedicated to providing personalised high-quality specialist care for patients with hearing and balance disorders to reduce the impact of these conditions. The service provides diagnostic and rehabilitative services for adults and children with symptoms of hearing loss, dizziness, tinnitus or hyperacusis.
Our multidisciplinary team of Audiologists, Speech and Language Therapists, Assistant Audiologists, and Speech and Language Therapy Assistants work at Manchester Royal Infirmary with some specialised clinics held at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital. The service is integrated with the Ear, Nose and Throat department at Manchester Royal Infirmary and the Richard Ramsden Centre for Auditory Implants.
Regional Services
Many of the services offered by Central Manchester Audiology Services are specialist regional services, including;
- Bone Conduction Hearing devices and Middle Ear Implants
- Tinnitus therapy
- Rehabilitation for adults with learning disabilities
- Diagnostic and rehabilitation services for those with balance difficulties
- The Richard Ramsden Centre for Hearing Implants incorporating the Cochlear and Auditory Brainstem Implant Programmes
The department is dedicated to improving patient experience of these services through research and audit. In addition, teaching and training is provided for students at the University of Manchester studying Audiology. Find out more about Audiology courses at the University of Manchester.
The department has hosted meetings for other Audiology services in the North West to improve services for adults with complex hearing needs, and national cochlear implant conferences.
About our Centre
A new centre for Head and Neck services in Manchester
In December 2013 Head and Neck out-patient services, including Audiology, Auditory Implants, Ear Nose and Throat (ENT), Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, moved to a new facility in Peter Mount Building on the Central Manchester site. The new Manchester Head and Neck Centre has state-of-the-art equipment in new out-patient facilities.
The Manchester Auditory Implant Centre also joined the move to Peter Mount Building from its former location at The University of Manchester. It was renamed ‘The Richard Ramsden Centre for Hearing Implants’ to honour the founder of auditory implantation in Manchester.
The new Manchester Head and Neck Centre at Peter Mount Building incorporates:
- Audiology (Hearing and Balance) Centre
- ENT Out-patients
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
- The Richard Ramsden Centre for Hearing Implants (previously known as The Manchester Auditory Implant Centre)
The HEAR Charity
The new centre was made possible following a substantial donation from the HEAR (Help Ear and Allied Research) Charity that was originally set up by Professor Richard Ramsden and colleagues to promote and fund cochlear implantation in Manchester.
The Hear Charity was established in 1998 to support cochlear implants and research into treatment of hearing loss at the University of Manchester. The charity supported the Manchester Cochlear Implant Programme to help develop technology and provide rehabilitation for implant users, supported numerous research projects and provided funding for staff and patient training and education. The Hear Charity is no longer active.