Drummond Hearing
Serving South Kensington · SW7

Hearing tests and ear wax removal in South Kensington

An independent audiology clinic on the doorstep of SW7 — private hearing assessments, premium hearing aids and microsuction ear wax removal, all with the same clinician every visit.

Drummond Hearing consults from the Bupa Cromwell Hospital on Cromwell Road, a few minutes west of the South Kensington museum quarter, and from Visit Health on Blythe Road.

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

Why South Kensington patients choose us

A hospital clinic on your own road

South Kensington residents rarely need to travel for anything, and hearing care should be no different. Cromwell Road runs straight through SW7, and our consulting room sits at its western end — close enough to walk from much of the area.

Independent by design

Drummond Hearing is owned by its audiologist, not by a manufacturer or a retail group. There are no sales targets attached to any recommendation.

Consultant-level experience

Scott Drummond holds a BSc in Audiology, is HCPC and RCCP registered, and has been Head of Audiology at the Bupa Cromwell Hospital since 2010.

Full diagnostic assessment

Sixty minutes covering video otoscopy, air and bone conduction audiometry, tympanometry, speech testing and tinnitus discussion where relevant.

Current hearing technology

Rechargeable and Bluetooth devices from Starkey, Phonak and GN ReSound, including invisible-in-canal styles fitted from your own ear impressions.

Safe wax removal

Microsuction rather than syringing, performed under direct vision with video otoscopy before and after so you can see the result.

One clinician, every time

The audiologist who assesses you fits your hearing aids and looks after them for years. Nothing is handed on to a junior.

What we offer South Kensington patients

Diagnostics, technology and aftercare in a private hospital setting rather than a shop floor.

Hearing tests

Private hearing tests in South Kensington

The assessment starts with your history: how long you have noticed a change, whether one ear is worse, whether there is tinnitus, noise exposure, family history or ear surgery. That conversation guides which tests matter most for you.

We then examine both ears with a video otoscope, so you see your own eardrum on screen, and measure hearing thresholds across the full frequency range by air conduction and — where indicated — bone conduction. Tympanometry adds a picture of middle ear pressure and eardrum movement, which is how a glue ear or eustachian tube problem is identified rather than guessed at.

Speech audiometry is the part most screenings skip and the part that predicts real-world difficulty best. At the end, your audiogram is explained figure by figure, and you leave with a written copy whether or not you go any further.

  • Detailed history and lifestyle discussion
  • Video otoscopy of both ears
  • Pure-tone audiometry, air and bone
  • Tympanometry for middle-ear function
  • Speech testing and tinnitus assessment
  • Written results to take away

Initial consultation and full hearing assessment: £150.

Hearing aids

Independent hearing aid fittings for SW7

Choosing hearing aids well is less about brand loyalty than about matching processing, style and connectivity to the way you live. Scott fits Starkey, Phonak and GN ReSound — a deliberately narrow, clinically motivated range rather than a full catalogue — and explains honestly where each is strongest.

At the fitting, real-ear measurement confirms that the amplification actually reaching your eardrum matches the prescription for your loss. Without it, a fitting is an estimate. This is the single biggest determinant of whether hearing aids work well, and it is standard here.

Because SW7 patients often spend time in galleries, lecture theatres and busy restaurants, we spend time on the programmes and streaming setup that make those environments manageable — including loop and Bluetooth options for museums and venues that offer them.

  • Starkey, Phonak and GN ReSound only — chosen on merit
  • Real-ear verified fittings
  • Invisible, receiver-in-canal and rechargeable styles
  • Direct streaming from iPhone and Android
  • 30-day trial in your own environments
  • A year of appointments and five-year warranty included

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

Ear wax removal

Microsuction ear wax removal in South Kensington

Blocked ears are the most common reason people call the clinic, and microsuction is the fastest safe fix. A fine suction tip lifts wax out under magnification while the ear is watched throughout, so nothing is done blind and no water enters the canal.

The whole appointment takes about half an hour. You will hear the suction — it sounds louder than it is — but discomfort is unusual, and the relief when a fully occluding plug clears is immediate.

We also check the ear afterwards and explain what caused the build-up. Frequent wax is often related to canal shape, hearing aid or earphone use, or cotton buds pushing wax inwards; knowing which applies usually reduces how often you need to come back.

  • Gold-standard microsuction technique
  • No irrigation or syringing
  • Video otoscopy before and after
  • Suitable after grommets or perforation
  • About 30 minutes for both ears
  • Often available at short notice

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 South Kensington

Minutes from Gloucester Road and the museums

The Bupa Cromwell Hospital is at 164–178 Cromwell Road, the same road that runs east through SW7 past the Natural History Museum and the V&A. From Gloucester Road station it is roughly an eight-minute walk west, and from South Kensington station a single stop on the District, Circle or Piccadilly line, or a fifteen-minute walk along Cromwell Road.

That proximity matters more than it sounds. Hearing appointments are not one-off events: a fitting is followed by reviews, fine-tuning and occasional servicing, and being able to drop in from SW7 without crossing London makes that aftercare something patients actually use.

For patients who prefer a smaller setting, our second location at Visit Health, 1 Blythe Road W14, is around ten minutes by car or a short hop on the District line to Kensington Olympia.

  • Tube: Gloucester Road (District, Circle & Piccadilly) is about eight minutes on foot; South Kensington is one stop away or a fifteen-minute walk.
  • Bus: The 74, 328, 430 and C1 all run along or across Cromwell Road through SW7.
  • On foot: Much of SW7 is within a 10–20 minute walk of the clinic along Cromwell Road or the Old Brompton Road.
  • Parking: On-site paid parking at the hospital, plus resident and metered bays nearby. Congestion Charge applies on weekdays.
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 South Kensington patients trust us

The clinic has grown almost entirely by word of mouth in SW7 and the surrounding streets. These are the things patients tell us made the difference.

Independent advice

You are told what your results actually show, including when the honest answer is that you do not need hearing aids yet.

No sales pressure

Prices are published on the website and given in writing. Nobody follows up with a discount that expires on Friday.

Personal recommendations

Devices are matched to your ears, your dexterity and your listening environments — not to whatever is on promotion.

Modern technology

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

Premium care

A quiet private hospital consulting room, generous appointment lengths and a clinician you can contact directly.

Excellent follow-up

A year of appointments comes with every premium fitting, and aftercare continues long after that.

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

South Kensington FAQ

South Kensington hearing questions answered

How much is a private hearing test in South Kensington?

£150 for the full 60-minute diagnostic assessment, including video otoscopy, pure-tone and speech audiometry, tympanometry and a clear explanation of your audiogram. Nothing further is charged for discussing the results or the options.

How long does microsuction take?

Around 30 minutes for both ears, including the otoscopy before and after. If wax is unusually hard we may recommend olive oil for a few days and a second short visit, and we will say so at the time.

Do I need a referral from my GP?

No — you can book directly. If anything found during the assessment needs a medical opinion, Scott can arrange onward referral to an ENT consultant quickly.

Which hearing aid brands do you fit?

Starkey, Phonak and GN ReSound. That is a curated clinical selection rather than a full catalogue: Starkey for invisible and AI-driven devices, Phonak for universal Bluetooth, GN ReSound for natural spatial sound.

How long will my appointment take?

Assessments run to a full hour, fittings 60–90 minutes and reviews 30–45 minutes. Wax removal is a half-hour appointment.

Can hearing loss be treated or reversed?

It depends on the type. Wax, infection and middle-ear fluid can be treated and hearing restored. Age-related and noise-related loss is permanent but responds very well to properly verified hearing aids.

Is there parking near the clinic?

Yes — the Bupa Cromwell Hospital has on-site paid parking and there are metered bays along Cromwell Road. Many SW7 patients simply walk or take one stop on the tube.

Can I walk in without an appointment?

The clinic runs on booked appointments only, which is why they never overrun. Wax removal slots are frequently available within a day or two if you call.

How do I book?

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

Do you see children?

Scott assesses older children and adults. Very young children and complex paediatric cases are better served by a dedicated paediatric audiology service, and we will point you to one rather than take the appointment.

More answers on our general FAQ · What happens at a hearing test · What is earwax? · Hearing aids in Kensington · News & Insights

Nearby areas

We also see patients from these areas near South Kensington

KensingtonChelseaKnightsbridgeEarl's Court
See every area we cover

Book your South Kensington appointment

A full hour with an independent audiologist, minutes from Gloucester Road. No GP referral required.

Book onlineCall 020 7139 5186Contact the clinic