We can help you understand what your child's hearing loss might mean for your family and your child.
We can help you:
- understand your child’s medical needs
- decide what treatment is best for your child
- learn what to expect in the months and years ahead.
The Healthy Hearing Family Support Service can also help you find the services and support you need.
Using our service
Our Childhood Hearing Clinics (CHC) are part of the Healthy Hearing Program and are located at the Queensland Children's Hospital.
We see children from birth to age 2 years. An audiologist must have diagnosed your child with a permanent hearing loss to be seen in this clinic. You must also live in central or southern Queensland or northern New South Wales.
Townsville University Hospital also offers a Childhood Hearing Clinic for families who live in northern Queensland.
What to expect
If your child is diagnosed with permanent hearing loss, the audiologist will contact your GP and ask them to write a referral to CHC. The CHC nurse will then contact you and book your appointments at Queensland Children's Hospital.
You may need to visit CHC up to 3 times in the first couple of months, especially if your child is going to be fitted with hearing aids.
Each appointment can take up to 3 hours, depending on the number of specialists they need to see during the clinic.
Specialists they may see
Paediatrician
A paediatrician will assess any medical and development concerns. This includes finding out why the hearing loss has happened.
Paediatric audiologist
A paediatric audiologist from Hearing Australia will talk to you about hearing devices, such as hearing aids. If they're needed, they'll fit the hearing aids when you visit our clinic.
Speech pathologist
A speech pathologist will discuss your child’s communication options, and speech and language development.
CHC may refer your child to other specialists and services. This may include an Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist, ophthalmology, genetic services, and our hearing implant program.
Getting a referral
You’ll need to get a referral from your GP to attend CHC. It must include a report from an audiologist confirming that your child has a permanent hearing loss.
Your GP will need to refer you using Smart Referrals.
Contact us
We're open from Monday to Friday between 8 am and 4 pm. You can contact us by:
- phone: 3068 1789
- email: childhood_hearing@health.qld.gov.au.