Drummond Hearing
Serving Chelsea · SW3 & SW10

Hearing tests, hearing aids and ear wax removal in Chelsea

Drummond Hearing is an independent hearing clinic a short drive or bus ride from Chelsea, offering unhurried private hearing tests, premium hearing aids and microsuction ear wax removal.

Every appointment — assessment, fitting and aftercare — is carried out personally by Scott Drummond, an HCPC-registered audiologist who has been Head of Audiology at the Bupa Cromwell Hospital since 2010.

Book onlineCall 020 7139 5186
Drummond Hearing consulting room used by patients from Chelsea

Why Chelsea patients choose us

Independent hearing care, ten minutes from the King's Road

Chelsea is well served by high-street hearing retailers, and almost all of them are owned by a hearing aid manufacturer. Drummond Hearing isn't owned by anyone but its audiologist, which changes what you are recommended and how long you are given.

Genuinely independent

No manufacturer owns this clinic and there are no sales targets. Scott fits Starkey, Phonak and GN ReSound and recommends whichever genuinely suits your hearing and your week.

An experienced audiologist

BSc in Audiology, HCPC and RCCP registered, and Head of Audiology at the Bupa Cromwell Hospital since 2010 — a hospital caseload behind every private appointment.

Comprehensive assessments

A full diagnostic hearing assessment lasts 60 minutes: video otoscopy, pure-tone audiometry with air and bone conduction, tympanometry and speech testing.

Latest premium technology

Rechargeable, Bluetooth-streaming and AI-driven hearing aids, including invisible-in-canal styles for Chelsea patients who want nothing visible at all.

Professional wax removal

Microsuction under direct vision, with video otoscopy before and after so you can see exactly what was there and what has changed.

Long appointments, one clinician

You are never passed between staff. The person who tests your hearing is the person who fits your aids and looks after them for years afterwards.

Hearing services for Chelsea residents

Three core services, all delivered in a quiet private consulting room rather than a retail booth on a busy street.

Hearing tests

Private hearing tests for Chelsea

A private hearing test at Drummond Hearing is a proper diagnostic assessment, not a five-minute screening. It begins with a conversation about what you are struggling with — the restaurants on the King's Road, the theatre, the phone at work — because the situations that matter to you shape everything that follows.

Video otoscopy checks the health of the ear canal and eardrum, and you see the images on screen as they are taken. Pure-tone audiometry maps your thresholds by air and bone conduction, which distinguishes a conductive problem such as wax or middle-ear fluid from a sensorineural loss. Tympanometry measures how the eardrum and middle ear are moving, and speech testing shows how well you understand words, not just detect tones.

If tinnitus is part of the picture we assess it in the same appointment, including pitch and loudness matching where useful, and discuss what actually helps. You leave with your audiogram explained in plain language and a written summary — with no obligation to buy anything.

  • 60-minute appointment, never rushed
  • Video otoscopy with images shown to you
  • Air and bone conduction audiometry
  • Tympanometry and speech-in-noise testing
  • Tinnitus assessment and advice
  • Results explained clearly before you leave

Initial consultation and full hearing assessment: £150.

Hearing aids

Private hearing aids for Chelsea patients

Because the clinic is independent, the recommendation you receive is based on your audiogram and your lifestyle rather than on which brand the parent company sells. Scott fits a deliberately curated range — Starkey, Phonak and GN ReSound — chosen because each leads in a different way: Starkey for invisible devices, on-device AI and health tracking, Phonak for universal Bluetooth streaming to any phone, GN ReSound for the most natural spatial sound.

Nearly every device fitted now is rechargeable, so there are no fiddly batteries, and all stream calls, music and television directly. For Chelsea patients who spend a lot of time in busy restaurants, the newer AI processors make a genuine, measurable difference to speech in noise — and you can hear that difference during a 30-day trial before committing.

Aftercare is included rather than sold. That means fine-tuning appointments, cleaning, wax filter changes, remote adjustments and a five-year extended warranty on premium fittings.

  • Independent advice across Starkey, Phonak and GN ReSound
  • Invisible, rechargeable and AI-powered options
  • Real-ear verification at the fitting
  • 30-day trial period
  • A year of follow-up appointments included
  • Five-year extended warranty on premium packages

Premium pairs: £4,750 (GN ReSound), £5,190 (Starkey), £5,750 (Phonak).

Ear wax removal

Microsuction ear wax removal near Chelsea

Microsuction is the method ENT surgeons use and the safest option for most ears. A gentle suction device removes wax under direct vision through a microscope — no water is flushed into the canal, which matters if you have had perforations, grommets or previous ear surgery.

Appointments take around 30 minutes for both ears including video otoscopy before and after. Most people find it straightforward and slightly noisy rather than uncomfortable, and hearing usually improves immediately.

If the wax is very hard we may ask you to soften it with olive oil for a few days first, and occasionally a second visit is needed — in which case we will tell you at the time rather than charging you twice for guesswork.

  • Microsuction under direct vision
  • Video otoscopy before and after
  • Safe with perforations and grommets
  • Around 30 minutes for both ears
  • Same-day appointments where available
  • Carried out by a qualified audiologist

Microsuction, both ears: £120.

Full details of every appointment type are on our services page, and every fee is published on our prices page.

Getting here from Chelsea

A short journey from SW3 and SW10

Chelsea patients mostly reach us at the Bupa Cromwell Hospital on Cromwell Road, which sits just north of the Fulham Road at the SW5 end of the borough. From Sloane Square the 11 and 22 buses run along the King's Road and connect towards Fulham Broadway and Earl's Court, and from most of Chelsea the drive takes well under fifteen minutes outside peak times.

If you are coming from the World's End or Chelsea Harbour end of SW10, our second clinic at Visit Health on Blythe Road in W14 is often the easier trip, particularly by car via the Fulham Road and North End Road.

The Cromwell is a private hospital, so the setting is calm and clinical rather than commercial — a quiet consulting room, proper diagnostic equipment and a reception that expects you. There is no waiting in a shop window while your hearing is discussed within earshot of other customers.

  • Tube: Earl's Court (District & Piccadilly) is a five-minute walk from the Cromwell; South Kensington and Sloane Square are both a direct District line ride away.
  • Bus: The 74, 328 and 430 serve Cromwell Road and the Old Brompton Road corridor from across Chelsea.
  • By car: Typically 8–15 minutes from the King's Road. On-site paid parking at the hospital plus metered bays on Cromwell Road; the area is inside the Congestion Charge zone on weekdays.
  • Landmarks: The Cromwell sits opposite the western end of the museum quarter, a few minutes from the Natural History Museum and Brompton Cemetery.
Bupa Cromwell Hospital
164–178 Cromwell Road, Kensington, London SW5 0TU

Visit Health
1 Blythe Road, London W14 0HG
Full directions and contact details

Why Chelsea patients trust Drummond Hearing

Hearing care is a long relationship, not a transaction. Most of our Chelsea patients come by personal recommendation, and the reasons they give are consistent.

Independent advice

Nothing is recommended because a supplier agreement requires it. If your hearing does not yet warrant hearing aids, you will be told so.

No sales pressure

There is no commission and no closing script. You go away with your results, prices in writing, and time to think.

Personal recommendations

Two people with identical audiograms can need very different devices. The recommendation follows your week, not a chart.

Modern technology

Real-ear measurement, tympanometry, speech-in-noise testing and the current generation of AI processors.

Premium care

A private hospital consulting room, unhurried appointments and direct contact with your audiologist between visits.

Excellent follow-up

Aftercare is included, not upsold — fine-tuning, servicing, repairs and remote adjustments for the life of the aids.

More about the clinician who will see you is on the about Scott Drummond page.

Chelsea FAQ

Common questions from Chelsea patients

How much is a hearing test in Chelsea?

A full private hearing assessment at Drummond Hearing is £150. That covers a 60-minute appointment with video otoscopy, pure-tone audiometry, tympanometry, speech testing and a full explanation of your results. There is no charge for the discussion about hearing aids that may follow.

How long does ear wax removal take?

Allow about 30 minutes for both ears. That includes video otoscopy before and after, the microsuction itself and time to talk about why the wax built up. The fee is £120 whether one ear or both need treating.

Do I need a GP referral?

No. Chelsea patients can book directly with the clinic. If the assessment reveals something that needs medical review — asymmetric loss, discharge or a suspected perforation — Scott can refer you to an ENT consultant, often on the same day.

Which hearing aids do you recommend?

It depends entirely on your audiogram and your listening life. Across our Chelsea patients, Starkey is most often chosen for invisible fittings and health features, Phonak where universal Bluetooth streaming matters, and GN ReSound where natural, spacious sound is the priority.

How long is an appointment?

Initial assessments are 60 minutes, hearing aid fittings around 60–90 minutes, wax removal 30 minutes and follow-up reviews 30–45 minutes. Nothing is booked in 15-minute slots.

Can hearing loss be treated?

Conductive losses caused by wax or middle-ear fluid are often reversible. Age-related sensorineural loss cannot be reversed, but it is very effectively managed with well-fitted hearing aids — and treating it early is associated with better long-term cognitive outcomes.

Is parking available?

Yes. The Bupa Cromwell Hospital has on-site paid parking, and there are metered bays on Cromwell Road and the surrounding streets. Remember the Congestion Charge applies on weekdays if you are driving in from outside the zone.

Do you see privately insured patients?

Yes. Because Scott is Head of Audiology at the Bupa Cromwell Hospital, the clinic is set up for patients insured with Bupa, AXA, Vitality, Cigna and others. Contact us with your insurer and policy number and we will advise on cover.

How do I book?

Book online through our Cliniko booking page at any hour, call 020 7139 5186, WhatsApp 07510 592 108 or email info@drummondhearing.co.uk. Wax removal appointments are often available within a day or two.

Can I try hearing aids before I buy?

Yes — every premium fitting includes a 30-day trial. You wear the aids in your own life, in the restaurants and rooms that actually matter, and we adjust them during that period.

More answers on our general FAQ · What happens at a hearing test · Best hearing aid brands compared · Hearing aids across London · News & Insights

Nearby areas

We also see patients from these areas near Chelsea

South KensingtonKnightsbridgeFulhamKensington
See every area we cover

Book a hearing appointment from Chelsea

Sixty unhurried minutes with an independent audiologist, five minutes from Earl's Court. No referral needed, no obligation to buy.

Book onlineCall 020 7139 5186Contact the clinic