Description
An opportunity is available in the Audiology department at PAH for an Audiologist to come and work in our friendly team. We work across three sites in Epping, Harlow and Bishops Stortford and travel to all three sites is essential.
We benefit from being a training department and currently have 2xSTPs, 1 BSc and 1 MSc Student.
We also run Paediatric Assessment and Rehabilitation and we encourage rotation through our Paediatric Service for all our staff to gain new skills, where possible, depending on the needs of the service at the time.
Main duties of the job
- Perform otoscopic examination of the ear canal to assess the condition of the external ear and eardrum. Recognise contra-indications to further treatment (e.g. perforation, discharge, blood and/or excessive wax) and refer to the appropriate professional when necessary e.g. ENT staff, GP Senior Audiologist, Nurse Practitioner etc
- Assess the hearing of adults and children over the age of 5 using a range of specialised diagnostic tests, including: Pure Tone Audiometry, Acoustic Admittance Measurements, Acoustic Reflex Measurements and Speech Audiometry, Oto-Acoustic Emissions.
- Obtain aural impressions on adults and children for the purpose of ear moulds or custom made earplugs.
- Select appropriate hearing aids
Job responsibilities
- Using drill, buffer and grinding equipment, modify patient’s ear moulds to facilitate comfort of fit and/or modify to change acoustic parameters
- Regularly review patients progress with the hearing aid and analyse need for modification of hearing aid programme and/or further rehabilitation, advice and counselling
- Fit custom made ear plugs for adults and children and instruct patients or their carers on effective use and maintenance
- Provide a one-stop Hearing Aid Repair Service, using analytical and diagnostic skills to formulate individual solutions to non-routine hearing aid problems.
- Recognise when a medical history or test results require onward referral to Senior Audiologist or ENT Medical Staff
- Analyse and interpret diagnostic test results to formulate an individual treatment plan
- Undertake home visits to housebound patients to provide a full range of audiological services where access to patients in a domestic setting may be restricted
- Undertake visits to in-patients who have been identified by ward staff as having hearing problems, providing the appropriate audiological services at the bedside
- Assist with paediatric audiology and hearing aid clinics
- Perform evening and weekend clinics as required (though we currently do not work evenings or weekends unless overtime is required).
Person Specification
- Qualifications: A Recognised qualification in Audiology (BSc, MSc, PTP, STP, BAAT, PgDip Aud,) or equivalent experience
- Experience: Able to perform a variety of Diagnostic Audiological testing and fit and verify hearing aids. Competent and confident to assist and supervise junior members of staff. Good dexterity and hand-eye co-ordination. Ability to keep accurate computerised patient notes.