Serving Knightsbridge · SW1X & SW7

Private hearing tests and hearing aids for Knightsbridge

Discreet, independent audiology a short journey west of Knightsbridge — full diagnostic hearing assessments, invisible and AI-driven hearing aids, and microsuction ear wax removal.

You see one audiologist, Scott Drummond, in a private hospital consulting room on Cromwell Road, with appointments long enough to do the job properly.

Book online Call 020 7139 5186

Drummond Hearing consulting room used by patients from Knightsbridge

Why Knightsbridge patients come to us

Clinical audiology, not a retail experience

Knightsbridge is surrounded by luxury retail, and hearing aids are increasingly sold the same way. Drummond Hearing is deliberately the opposite: a clinician-owned practice where the assessment is diagnostic, the advice is independent, and nothing is styled as a purchase.

Complete discretion

A private consulting room inside a hospital, not a shop window. Nothing about your appointment is visible from the street.

Invisible fittings a speciality

Invisible-in-canal devices made from impressions of your own ears — for many Knightsbridge patients, the deciding factor.

Independent recommendations

Starkey, Phonak and GN ReSound, selected on clinical merit. No manufacturer owns this clinic or sets its targets.

Senior clinician throughout

Scott Drummond, BSc Audiology, HCPC and RCCP registered, Head of Audiology at the Bupa Cromwell Hospital since 2010.

Time to do it properly

Hour-long assessments and 60–90 minute fittings with real-ear verification, rather than a compressed appointment.

Insurance-friendly

Set up for privately insured patients with Bupa, AXA, Vitality, Cigna and other major insurers.

Hearing services for Knightsbridge residents

Three services, one clinician, and no part of the process handed to a salesperson.

Hearing tests

Comprehensive hearing assessment

The assessment is diagnostic rather than a hearing screening. Video otoscopy examines the canal and eardrum; pure-tone audiometry establishes thresholds by air and bone conduction; tympanometry measures how the middle ear is working; and speech audiometry tests how clearly you understand words rather than simply detect sound.

Where tinnitus is present — common among patients with a history of shooting, motorsport or live music — we assess it in the same visit and talk through the management approaches that have evidence behind them, including sound therapy and hearing aid-based masking.

You will see and understand your own audiogram before you leave. If the honest conclusion is that your hearing is within normal limits, that is what you will be told.

60-minute diagnostic appointment
Video otoscopy with on-screen images
Air and bone conduction audiometry
Tympanometry and speech testing
Tinnitus assessment and management advice
Results explained in plain language

Initial consultation and full hearing assessment: £150.

Hearing aids

Invisible and premium hearing aids

Discretion is the most common request we hear from Knightsbridge patients, and modern technology answers it well. Invisible-in-canal devices sit deep enough in the canal to be genuinely unseen; whether they suit you depends on canal size, shape and the degree of your loss, and we will say honestly if a slim receiver-in-canal device would serve you better.

Where technology matters more than concealment, the current premium range is remarkable: Starkey's on-device AI and health sensors, Phonak's universal Bluetooth to any phone, and GN ReSound's natural spatial rendering. All are rechargeable and all stream media and calls directly.

Every fitting is verified with real-ear measurement, followed by a 30-day trial, a year of included appointments and a five-year extended warranty on premium packages.

Invisible-in-canal, custom-made from your impressions
Rechargeable premium devices from three manufacturers
Real-ear verification at fitting
Streaming for phone, television and travel
30-day trial before you commit
Discreet aftercare appointments

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

Ear wax removal

Microsuction ear wax clinic

Microsuction is a clean, water-free technique performed under magnification. It is the method used in ENT departments and the appropriate choice for anyone with a history of ear surgery, perforation or recurrent infection.

Appointments run to about 30 minutes for both ears, with video otoscopy before and after so the result is visible rather than described. Hearing typically improves the moment an occluding plug is lifted clear.

Regular in-ear headphone and hearing aid users are more prone to build-up; we will explain what is driving yours and how often, realistically, you need to come back.

Performed by a qualified audiologist
Microsuction under direct vision
No irrigation
Before and after images
Around 30 minutes for both ears
Same-day slots where available

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 Knightsbridge

A short journey west from SW1X

The clinic is at the Bupa Cromwell Hospital, 164–178 Cromwell Road, SW5 0TU. From Knightsbridge station the Piccadilly line runs directly to Gloucester Road and Earl's Court, either of which leaves a short walk; by car the trip along the Brompton Road and Cromwell Road usually takes ten to fifteen minutes outside peak hours.

Cromwell Road is a continuation of the same corridor that runs past Harrods and the Brompton Oratory, so the route is straightforward and familiar to most Knightsbridge drivers. Both Knightsbridge and the clinic sit inside the Congestion Charge zone, which applies on weekdays.

For patients who prefer somewhere quieter still, our second clinic at Visit Health, 1 Blythe Road W14, is a calm, modern setting about twenty minutes away and often easier to reach on a weekday morning.

Tube: Piccadilly line from Knightsbridge to Gloucester Road (two stops) or Earl's Court (three), then a five to eight-minute walk.
Bus: The 74 runs from Knightsbridge towards the Cromwell Road and Earl's Court corridor.
By car: Roughly 10–15 minutes via the Brompton Road and Cromwell Road; on-site paid parking at the hospital.
Landmarks: The clinic is at the far western end of the same road that passes the V&A and the Natural History Museum.

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 Knightsbridge patients trust Drummond Hearing

Patients who can go anywhere tend to choose on judgement rather than convenience. These are the reasons they give.

Independent advice

No ownership by any manufacturer means no house brand to protect and no target to meet.

No sales pressure

Prices are published openly, quotes are given in writing, and nobody chases you afterwards.

Personal recommendations

The device is chosen for your ears, your discretion requirements and your listening life.

Modern technology

Current-generation AI processors, rechargeable platforms and verified fittings.

Premium care

A private hospital setting, unhurried appointments and one senior clinician throughout.

Excellent follow-up

A year of appointments included, with servicing, remote adjustments and repairs handled directly.

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

Knightsbridge FAQ

Knightsbridge patient questions

How much is a private hearing test?

£150 for a full 60-minute diagnostic assessment with video otoscopy, pure-tone and speech audiometry and tympanometry. Discussing the results and the options costs nothing further.

Are invisible hearing aids suitable for everyone?

No, and any clinic that says otherwise is selling. Suitability depends on the size and shape of your ear canal, the degree and configuration of your hearing loss and your dexterity. We assess this properly and give you a straight answer.

How long does ear wax removal take?

About 30 minutes for both ears, including otoscopy before and after. The fee is £120.

Do I need a GP referral?

No. Knightsbridge patients book directly. If a medical opinion is warranted, Scott can refer you to an ENT consultant promptly.

Which hearing aids do you recommend?

It depends on the priority. For invisibility and on-device AI, Starkey. For universal Bluetooth streaming to any phone, Phonak. For the most natural spatial sound, GN ReSound. We only fit these three.

How long is an appointment?

Assessments are a full hour, fittings 60–90 minutes and reviews 30–45 minutes. Nothing is compressed to fit more people through the day.

Will my private medical insurance cover this?

Often, at least in part. Because Scott is Head of Audiology at the Bupa Cromwell Hospital, the clinic is set up for insured patients across the major UK insurers. Send your policy details and we will advise before you attend.

Is parking available?

Yes — on-site paid parking at the Bupa Cromwell Hospital, plus metered street bays. Both Knightsbridge and the clinic are within the weekday Congestion Charge zone.

Can hearing loss be treated?

Conductive causes such as wax or middle-ear fluid are frequently reversible. Sensorineural loss is permanent, but modern verified hearing aid fittings restore a great deal of what is missed, and evidence links treating it early with better cognitive outcomes.

How do I book?

Book online through our Cliniko page, call 020 7139 5186, WhatsApp 07510 592 108 or email info@drummondhearing.co.uk.

More answers on our general FAQ · Invisible hearing aids · Best hearing aid brands compared · Private audiologist London · News & Insights

Nearby areas

We also see patients from these areas near Knightsbridge

South Kensington Chelsea Kensington Earl's Court

See every area we cover

Book a discreet appointment from Knightsbridge

An hour with an independent, HCPC-registered audiologist in a private hospital consulting room.

Book online Call 020 7139 5186 Contact the clinic