Speech or language concerns
Delayed speech, unclear pronunciation or a plateau in language development. Hearing is the first thing to rule out before anything else is investigated.
Children's hearing
Children's hearing tests in Kensington and West London.
Gentle, unhurried paediatric hearing assessments carried out personally by Scott Drummond — for glue ear, speech concerns, school referrals and repeated ear infections. No GP referral needed, and results explained to you before you leave.
When to have a child's hearing tested
Children rarely report hearing difficulty — they simply adapt, and the adaptation is what gets noticed. These are the reasons parents most often bring a child in.
Repeated ear infections or colds
Recurrent infections frequently leave fluid behind the eardrum. The infection clears; the hearing loss can quietly persist for months.
A school or nursery has raised it
Inattention, tiredness by the afternoon and 'not listening' are classic presentations of a mild fluctuating hearing loss in the classroom.
Suspected glue ear
The commonest cause of childhood hearing loss, and the easiest to confirm — tympanometry gives a clear answer in seconds.
Family history of hearing loss
A baseline audiogram gives you something to compare against later, which is worth having even when everything appears normal.
Blocked ears or wax
Examined with a video otoscope so you can see exactly what we see, with removal only where it is safe and comfortable for the child.
What the appointment involves
- 1
History
A conversation with you about pregnancy and birth, ear infections, speech development, school reports and what prompted the visit.
- 2
Otoscopy
A video camera examination of both ear canals and eardrums — shown on screen, which most children find genuinely interesting.
- 3
Tympanometry
A two-second test per ear measuring how the eardrum moves. This is what identifies glue ear and middle-ear fluid.
- 4
Age-appropriate audiometry
Play audiometry for younger children, standard headphone audiometry for older ones. Both ears, across the pitches that matter for speech.
- 5
Results and plan
The audiogram explained in plain language, a copy to take home, and a clear recommendation — monitor, treat, or refer to ENT.
Nothing in the appointment is uncomfortable and nothing is rushed. The adult version of the same assessment, including how to read an audiogram, is described in what happens at a hearing test.
Glue ear — the most common finding
Glue ear affects the majority of children at some point before school age. Thick fluid collects behind the eardrum, usually after a cold or ear infection, and muffles hearing by 20 to 30 decibels — enough to blur speech in a noisy classroom while leaving quiet one-to-one conversation intact. It commonly fluctuates, which is exactly why it gets mistaken for inattention.
Most cases resolve on their own within three months, so the standard approach is watchful waiting with repeat testing rather than immediate intervention. Where it persists and hearing is affected, ENT referral for grommets or hearing aid support becomes appropriate. The full clinical picture is set out in audiological diagnosis and management of glue ear.
Common questions
- At what age can a child have a hearing test?
- Hearing can be tested at any age — the method changes, not the possibility. From around 3 years most children manage play audiometry, where they drop a toy in a bucket each time they hear a tone. Older children do standard audiometry with headphones. Tympanometry, which measures middle-ear function, takes seconds and works at any age.
- What are the signs my child may have hearing loss?
- Common signs are turning the television up, not responding when called from another room, mishearing or frequently saying 'what?', speech that is delayed or unclear, inattention or tiredness at school, and repeated ear infections or colds that leave the ears blocked. A teacher raising concerns is always worth acting on.
- Do I need a GP referral for a private children's hearing test?
- No. You can book directly. If the assessment shows something that needs ENT input — persistent glue ear, an unexplained one-sided loss, or a structural problem — we write to your GP or refer on with a full report.
- How long does a children's hearing appointment take?
- Around 45 to 60 minutes, unhurried. That allows time for the child to settle, for otoscopy, tympanometry and age-appropriate audiometry, and for the results to be explained properly to parents before you leave.
- Can you remove ear wax from a child?
- Sometimes, and only where it is safe and the child is comfortable with the procedure. Children's ear canals are small and sensitive, so the decision is made case by case after examination — we will never press ahead with a child who is distressed.
- What is glue ear?
- Glue ear (otitis media with effusion) is a build-up of thick fluid behind the eardrum, most common between two and six years old. It causes a temporary conductive hearing loss that often fluctuates, and it is the single most common reason a child is referred for a hearing test.
Concerned about your child's hearing?
A single appointment usually settles the question. If everything is normal, you have a baseline; if it isn't, you have a plan.
Book a children's hearing testFamilies visit us from Kensington, Chelsea, Notting Hill and across West London.