Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! If your hearing suddenly changes, we can see you quickly and carry out a full assessment.

Depending on what we find, we can offer advice, treatment, or refer you straight to an ENT specialist. No need to wait for a GP appointment.

Not at all! A hearing test is completely painless.

You’ll listen to some tones through headphones and let us know when you hear them. We’ll also check your ears and eardrum, which is quick, easy, and doesn’t hurt.

A hearing test itself usually takes around 10–15 minutes.

However, our full assessment—including a detailed discussion about your hearing history, an ear examination, and other checks—takes about 90 minutes. By the end, we’ll have a complete picture of your hearing and can advise on the best next steps for you.

Our hearing tests are priced at £100. This cost includes a thorough assessment of your hearing and overall ear health. You’ll receive a full history evaluation, ear examination, pressure test, and hearing test, along with an explanation of your results. If necessary, we’ll discuss the next steps, such as a referral or the potential need for hearing aids.

We recommend having your hearing tested annually, especially if you are aware of some degree of hearing loss or if you are over the age of 50. Regular check-ups help to monitor any changes in your hearing and ensure that you get the appropriate support and treatment. Early detection of hearing loss can make a significant difference in managing your hearing health over time.

A hearing test can provide valuable information about the frequency (pitch) and intensity of sounds that you can hear. It can identify the degree of hearing loss in each ear, pinpointing which ear may be worse and whether you need hearing aids. Additionally, the test can detect different ear conditions such as ear infections or blockages, which may affect your hearing. This comprehensive assessment helps us offer the best solution tailored to your specific needs.

Absolutely! Even if your hearing is perfectly fine, we can give you tips on protecting your ears, preventing future hearing loss, and keeping your ears healthy.

Regular check-ups are a great idea, especially if you’re around loud noise often or just want to keep on top of your hearing.

We recommend that you bring anything that might help us understand your hearing better:

• Any past hearing test results
• A list of medications you take
• Notes on any hearing problems or symptoms you’ve noticed

The more we know, the better advice we can give!

At Byrom Audiology, we offer hearing tests at our two clinics in Dore and Thornbury. If you prefer an NHS service, you may have to wait for an appointment, but we strive to provide swift, accessible services for those who want to get their hearing tested sooner. Our team is always available to help you arrange an appointment at your convenience.

At Byrom Audiology, we offer hearing tests at two convenient locations: Dore and Thornbury. Both clinics are equipped with state-of-the-art audiology equipment, ensuring a comprehensive and accurate assessment of your hearing and overall aural health. You can choose from NHS or private options, depending on your preferences and needs. Our team is here to guide you through every step of the process, providing expert advice and care.

There are some home or over-the-counter remedies but our ears are very sensitive instruments and as ear experts, we recommend that you take great caution and care when trying to treat earwax build-up at home. Using cotton buds and hair pins or other objects can actually push ear wax deeper into the ear, creating a blockage. When you come to us for Ear Wax Removal at Byrom Audiology, treatment is quick and painless, and we will unblock your ear in a safe and efficient way.

An increasing number of GP surgeries and NHS clinics have stopped offering ear wax removal treatment and it is due to be phased out as an NHS treatment over the next few years. We at Byrom Audiology understand how uncomfortable and annoying ear wax build-up can be – and we offer a range of ear wax removal treatments to help you.

Yes it can and generally does, so we don’t advise you to use your fingers or any objects like cotton buds to remove earwax. This will only push it in and make your situation even worse. Instead, we’ll clear up the matter for you within minutes!

In normal circumstances excess wax will find its way out of the canal and into the ear opening naturally, then it will be washed away. When your glands are making more earwax than needed it may go hard and block your ear and, in some cases, some people are just prone to producing more earwax than others. Excess earwax won’t always lead to a blockage, however the most common cause of earwax blocks tends to be at-home removal! When you clean your ears, you can accidentally push the wax deeper and this will cause a blockage. You might also be likely to have wax build-up if you frequently use earphones, as they can inadvertently prevent earwax from coming out of the ear canals, causing blockages.

This will depend on the severity but in some cases, impaction can cause pain, pressure, itching, odour, ringing of the ears, ear discharge and sometimes hearing loss.

Your ear canal produces a waxy oil called cerumen, which is more commonly referred to as earwax.

Comprehensive Range of Removal Techniques
We offer irrigation, microsuction and manual ear wax removal – unlike many providers who only offer one method. This allows us to tailor the treatment to each individual:

• Microsuction is essential for patients with a perforated eardrum.
• Children and adults may have personal preferences based on comfort or previous experiences.

Advanced Diagnostic Equipment
We use a video otoscope so patients can view their ear canal before and after treatment.

• Enables clear communication and peace of mind.
• We can provide immediate onward referral to NHS or private specialists if required – no need to visit a GP.
• Our high-quality microsuction equipment is effective even in cases involving narrow ear canals or impacted wax.

Inclusive Follow-Up Appointments

• If complete removal is not possible during the initial appointment, we offer a follow-up to ensure thorough treatment.
• This may include further softening of wax with oil or reassessment of any underlying conditions such as infections or lesions.

Conditions known as stenosis (which involves the narrowing of the ear canal), overgrowth of hair in the canal, and hypothyroidism can all cause ear wax build-up. Using cotton buds, wearing hearing aids, and the ageing of the skin and loss of elasticity can also lead to excessive earwax.

Earwax is necessary to protect the ear from dust, foreign particles and microorganisms, as well as protecting ear canal skin from water irritation. Earwax is also slightly acidic and it does have antibacterial properties. Without earwax, the ear canal can become dry, waterlogged, and prone to infection.

There is an extensive range of hearing aid systems available so we are confident that we can find a hearing aid for you. You can select from in-ear, over-ear or a Lyric hearing aid, which can be battery operated or rechargeable. We will help you work out the best options for your hearing level and lifestyle.

Book an appointment for a chat and a hearing test and we’ll help you find the right listening device!

Call us now on 0114 419 1800 or click here to book online.

If you’ve been struggling with background noise, feel like people are mumbling, or find it difficult to hear in places like restaurants or group conversations, it may be a sign that you have some level of hearing loss. Additionally, the onset of tinnitus (ringing or buzzing in the ears) can also be an indicator. If you notice any of these symptoms, it's a good idea to get a hearing test to understand the cause and explore the potential benefits of a hearing aid.

A hearing aid from Byrom Audiology is guaranteed for 5 years +, depending on the make and model, as well as how well it is cared for. Regular maintenance and occasional repairs can help extend the life of your hearing aids. At Byrom Audiology, we provide guidance on how to care for your devices and ensure they stay in optimal condition. We also offer a comprehensive 90-minute assessment where we provide you with tailored advice based on your specific hearing needs.

We welcome anyone who believes their hearing could be improved! Whether you’re a first-time hearing aid user, a long-term wearer, previously NHS or a private device user, our audiologists are here to help.

We have improved the hearing of 100s of people who had previously been fitted by NHS or other private clinics. So, give us a call and see how we can help!

Book your Hearing Aid assessment by calling 0114 419 1800

First, ensure your hearing aid is fully charged or has a fresh battery and if it doesn’t work after that, ensure the wax filter is clear and the dome is not full of wax.

If it still isn’t working, please contact our audiology team here at Byrom Audiology, who would be happy to fine tune or service your Hearing Aid for you.

Book your Hearing Aid service by calling 0114 419 1800

It’s important to recognise that Hearing Aids won’t totally perfect or restore your hearing, but will help to make sounds much louder and clearer.

Reducing the impact that hearing loss can have on your life, a hearing aid will:

• Help you to hear every day sounds more clearly, such as the doorbell and phone
• Improve your ability to hear speech
• Help to make you feel more confident when it comes to talking to people and also make it easier for you to follow conversations in many different environments
• Help you to enjoy listening to music and the TV, at a volume that’s comfortable for those around you

Call us now on 0114 419 1800 or click here to book online.

Roger connects to any hearing aid or cochlear implant no matter the brand. Have a chat with one of our audiologists at Byrom Audiology and we’ll identify the best receiver option for you.

While hearing aids can significantly improve the clarity of sounds and help you hear better, they don’t restore your hearing to normal. Hearing aids are designed to amplify sounds and enhance your ability to hear in different environments, but they can't "fix" hearing loss completely. They offer one of the best chances of clearer hearing, even with some level of loss, but the experience may not be exactly the same as natural hearing. With the right hearing aids, you can greatly improve your quality of life and communication, even with hearing challenges.

Yes, absolutely Lyric is an FDA-cleared hearing aid and has undergone a range of extensive studying in hundreds of clinical research trials and patients since 2001. In over 15 years of clinical monitoring, there have been no reports of serious complications resulting from use of the Lyric Hearing Aid. Lyric was commercially launched in 2007 and since then has been safely worn by hundreds of thousands of patients across the UK and on a worldwide basis.

Yes, you can. The Lyric Hearing Aid is very easy to remove and take out and we’d be happy to show you how. Book a visit with the team by calling: 0114 419 1800

Yes, you can turn the Lyric Hearing Aid off for sleeping, we advise that you leave it on or set it to a low level that is specifically designed for night-time.

Lyric is a very small, discreet hearing aid, with exceptional build quality incorporating Swiss precision engineering which allows it to withstand even the most challenging conditions within the ear canal.

Lyric Hearing Aids are placed in the ear canal near the eardrum provide a natural listening experience, compared with many traditional hearing aids which capture and process sound from outside of the ear. Lyric uses the natural anatomy of the ear to help amplify the sound and provide users with a full and natural listening experience.

We at Byrom Audiology are confident and proud to recommend and supply Phonak Roger devices to our clients.

The Lyric Hearing Aid is suitable for most people who are affected by hearing loss so contact us at Byrom Audiology to discuss with our audiologists if it is right for you. Call 0114 419 1800 to book your appointment.

Lyric Hearing Aids can be worn for roughly two months at a time however replacement needs will vary depending on the individual and the device battery life which in turn are subject to individual ear conditions, level of hearing loss and environmental noise level.

Lyric is available on a monthly subscription of £250.00 and this is for two ears. Our experience has shown that Lyric is rarely fitted to only one ear, but in the cases that it is, the monthly subscription will cost £125.00.

There’s no need to worry, you can shower or bath with Lyric Hearing Aid in place, if you are a regular swimmer then custom swim plugs can be made to protect the devices. For more information, feel free to ask your Hearing Aid Dispenser, Byrom Audiology today.

Yes – if your child experiences sudden hearing loss, discomfort, or persistent ear problems, we can assess them quickly and provide advice, treatment, or referrals to ENT specialists if needed.

No - We also provide guidance for children with speech delays, ear infections, blockages, and general ear health. Even if your child’s hearing is fine, we can offer advice to keep their ears healthy and monitor changes over time.

Some signs to watch out for include:

• Asking “what?” more than usual
• Difficulty following instructions
• Turning one ear towards sounds
• Speaking loudly or unclearly
• Withdrawing from social interactions
• Delayed speech development
• Complaining of ear pain or a “blocked” feeling.

If any of these sound familiar, it’s worth booking a simple, quick and easy assessment.

Most children’s appointments are around 10-15 minutes.

This gives us plenty of time to assess hearing carefully while keeping things relaxed and enjoyable.

We see children of all ages, from toddlers to teenagers.

Every test is adapted to your child’s age, attention span, and development level, so we can get accurate results even from very young children.

Pete, our specialist paediatric audiologist, will take a full history and look inside your child’s ears with a gentle, child-friendly approach.

Then, we’ll carry out play-based hearing tests that are adapted for your child’s age and development. The whole process is designed to be calm, safe, and even a bit fun!

These are very common childhood conditions.

We can check for wax build-up, fluid behind the eardrum (glue ear), or other issues and advise on safe treatment. Early detection is important to prevent hearing or speech delays.

Not at all! All our tests are completely painless.

We use headphones for sound testing, look in the ears with an otoscope, and sometimes measure eardrum movement with tiny, gentle equipment. Kids often enjoy the play-based approach and distraction tools we use.

Everyone’s life and needs are different and our qualified audiologists at Byrom Audiology will help identify whether a Phonak Roger system is the best option for your lifestyle and level of hearing loss.

Roger has been designed to be fit across all ages, all degrees of hearing loss. Devices help:

• Current hearing aid or cochlear implant users to hear in noisy situations
• People experiencing hearing challenges at work who need hearing solutions for noise reduction
• People leading active lifestyles
• Parents who need hearing care solutions to help your children thrive
• Students, who need to hear in and outside of the classroom
• Teens to follow and contribute to conversations in the classroom as well as social and extracurricular activities.

Founded in 1947, Phonak has grown to become a global leader in the hearing healthcare industry. The company strongly focuses on research and development, and they work tirelessly to develop innovative products that address the specific needs of people with hearing loss. They have pioneered several ground-breaking technologies, including the Roger wireless communication system, designed to improve speech recognition in noisy environments.

We at Byrom Audiology are confident and proud to recommend and supply Phonak Roger devices to our clients.

The app is designed primarily for adults, but younger users with hearing or auditory processing challenges may also benefit under professional guidance. We can advise on suitability during your consultation.

The app provides feedback after each exercise and tracks improvements in speech understanding over time, so you can see your progress clearly.

While the app benefits most hearing aid users, our audiologists will advise if your hearing level or device requires a tailored approach to training.

You’ll need a compatible smartphone or tablet (iOS or Android) and an internet connection to download the app. We will guide you on setup and any device pairing.

While Lenire is suitable for most tinnitus patients, we don’t advise using Lenire if you:

• Have a pacemaker, defibrillator or any other active implantable device.*
• Are pregnant.*
• Have epilepsy or any other condition that may result in loss of consciousness.*
• Have any condition that causes impaired sensitivity of the tongue.**
• Have oral cavity inflammation, sores or lesions that may contact the Tonguetip.**
• Have any intermittent or chronic neuralgia in the head and neck area.*
• Have Meniere’s disease.* Lenire use has not been evaluated for Meniere’s disease.
• Have objective source tinnitus.
• Are wearing oral piercings.

If you have been fitted with a hearing aid within the last 90 days, we would not recommend tinnitus treatment until after the 90-day period, because you need time to settle and understand your hearing aid.

When you start your Lenire tinnitus treatment, we recommend you take your hearing aid out 1 hour before your treatment. This is a precaution we keep in place for patient safety.

Recent clinical trials have shown that 80% of people who underwent Lenire treatment for tinnitus felt an improvement sustained for around 12 months after the treatment.

We recommend Lenire Tinnitus treatment to any patient suffering from subjective tinnitus not included in the contraindications list (see below). If you can hear a ringing or feel a tinnitus sensation, give us a call.

Tinnitus is not a disease but can be a symptom of something more serious. If you are suffering from Tinnitus, we recommend booking an appointment with your audiologist.

The first signs of tinnitus generally start with noise in the ear which could be a ringing noise, roaring, hissing, whistling or a buzzing sound. This noise could be constant or intermittent and varies from person to person.

Absolutely. Your audiologist is available to help with troubleshooting or advice on maximising your training benefits.