Child-friendly hearing assessments for ages 3 and above, at our private ear and hearing clinic in Dartford, Kent.
£99 (includes earwax removal)
Our specialist paediatric hearing services are designed for children aged 3 years and above. We use child-friendly assessment techniques in a comfortable, welcoming environment to ensure accurate results without causing any distress.
Our audiologists trained and worked in the NHS before joining Tragus, and are experienced in testing children. The approach is adapted to your child’s age and developmental stage, so a three-year-old and a ten-year-old are tested very differently. You stay with your child for the whole appointment.
Families travel to us from Dartford, Bexley, Bexleyheath, Gravesend, Swanley, Sidcup, Orpington, Greenhithe and across South East London. Appointments are usually available within a few days, including alternate Saturdays.
Visual examination of the ear canal and eardrum using advanced video technology - you can see exactly what we see on screen
Quick, painless test of middle ear function that identifies fluid, pressure problems or glue ear in seconds
Fun, game-based hearing test where children respond to sounds by playing with toys - suitable from age 3
Standard headphone hearing test for older children, measuring the quietest sounds they can hear at each pitch
Assessment of how well your child hears and understands speech at different volumes
Safe micro-suction removal if earwax is blocking the ear canal - included in the assessment price, never charged as an extra
Results explained on the day, with a written report you can give to school, your GP or a specialist
Glue ear (otitis media with effusion) is the most common cause of temporary hearing loss in children. Fluid builds up behind the eardrum, usually after a cold or ear infection, and muffles sound in much the same way as wearing earplugs. Many children have no pain at all, which is why it is so often missed.
Tympanometry detects it immediately. If your child has glue ear, we will tell you on the day, explain whether it is likely to clear on its own, and write to your GP if a referral for grommets or further management is appropriate. If hearing is affected in the meantime, we will explain what helps at home and in the classroom.
Before the appointment: We’ll send information about what to expect. Please bring any relevant medical information or school reports about your child’s hearing or development.
During the test: The assessment takes 30 to 45 minutes. You stay with your child throughout. We make it fun and engaging, and most children enjoy it.
After the test: We discuss the results with you straight away and provide a written report. If treatment is needed, we explain every option and the next steps clearly, with no pressure.
We test children from age 3 upwards. Below that age, testing needs specialist equipment found in hospital paediatric audiology departments, and we will point you to the right NHS service rather than test a child we cannot test properly.
No. Nothing sharp goes near your child and no part of the assessment is painful. Play audiometry is a listening game, and tympanometry is a two-second puff of air in each ear that most children find funny rather than uncomfortable.
Between 30 and 45 minutes, including time to explain the results to you. If earwax removal is needed as well, allow a little longer.
Yes. If wax is blocking the view of the eardrum or affecting the test, we remove it safely by micro-suction as part of the £99 appointment. There is no separate charge.
Yes. You receive a written report you can pass to school, your GP, a SENCO or a speech and language therapist. If onward referral is appropriate, we will say so clearly in the report.
Tell us when you book. We allow extra time, let your child look at the equipment first, and let them set the pace. You stay in the room throughout. We would rather take longer and get a reliable result than rush a child who is not ready.
Yes, from age 7. A full hearing test comes first, because APD is only diagnosed once hearing itself is confirmed to be normal. You can read more on our APD assessment page.
Regus Admirals Park, Victory Way, Dartford DA2 6QD, with free on-site parking. We are a short drive from Bexley, Gravesend, Swanley, Sidcup, Orpington and Greenhithe.
