Audiology is a rapidly developing field, and the need for audiological services is clear. This is a list of the best audiology centres in Kenya. Audiology centres are institutions that offer hearing healthcare services. They diagnose, treat and manage hearing and balance disorders. A national study of hearing showed that approximately 16% of the population have a significant hearing loss, indicating that working in this field is an important area of the NHS.
Working life
In this area of healthcare science, you could work in areas including:
- paediatrics
- adult assessment and rehabilitation
- special needs groups
- research and development
- teaching
Healthcare science staff in audiology work in a variety of settings, including hospitals and community settings (including the independent sector), where they assess and treat patients. With appropriate further training and development, and depending on their employer, they may reach consultant level. Many operate open referral clinics and may be the only point of contact for the patient.
Some audiologists work in a university, where their job is primarily concerned with teaching and research.
Roles in audiology
There are different roles within audiology that you can consider. These include:
Newborn hearing screener
As a newborn hearing screener you’d work in neonatal units, postnatal wards, and in hospitals and clinics. You’d be:
- involved in identifying which newborn babies need to undergo a hearing assessment, and, after gaining consent from the parent or guardian, undertaking this assessment using screening equipment
- responsible for making sure that the equipment you’re using is working correctly
- recording all the results accurately using various computer systems, and forwarding these to appropriate healthcare staff requiring them
- working as a part of a team including healthcare scientists, neonatal nurses, GPs and health visitors
Hearing aid audiologist
Hearing aid dispensers (HAD) are fully qualified clinicians who assess hearing and provide aftercare for hearing aids.
Find out more about the role of hearing aid dispensers
Healthcare science practitioner
At a more senior level, working as a healthcare science practitioner, you’d:
- use ways to measure and compensate for hearing loss, including offering the initial therapeutic support and advice, and diagnose audio-vestibular neurological diseases
- work directly with patients, often children or elderly people
- prescribe appropriate hearing aid equipment or arrange onward referral for further investigation
- play both a clinical role and a managerial development role
Clinical scientist
As a clinical scientist working in audiology, you’d:
- have a substantial amount of theoretical knowledge and practical skills about hearing, acoustics and balance
- be able to develop diagnostic protocols, critically interpret and report the results of these procedures
- recommend a care management strategy, for an individual patient, enabling you to solve clinical hearing and balance problems, and when necessary, develop logical alternatives
- be involved in counselling and rehabilitating hearing impaired patients
As a more experienced clinical scientist, you’d generally carry out the non-routine aspects of an audiological service, involving complex hearing and balance computer-based investigations especially where a high degree of competence and responsibility is necessary. This will require background knowledge of the scientific and technological foundation on which hearing science is based and would often involve you acting as a co-ordinator, manager and initiator of service development.
List Of Best Audiology Centres In Kenya
IncusEar Hearing Aid Centre – Audiology & Hearing HealthCare
Address: 5th Avenue Office Suites, 5th Floor Suite 10, Opposite Nairobi Traffic Headquarters 5th Ngong Avenue
Phone: 0722 112555
Appointments: incusear.com
Dexta Hearing Centre
Located in: Kimathi House
Address: Kimathi House , 5th floor room 501,along, Kimathi St, Nairobi
Phone: 0724 901244
SNR Hearing Centre
Address: Mayfair Suites, Parklands Gardens, Nairobi
Phone: 0772 914586
Appointments: snrhearing.co.uk
Nairobi Audiology Center Ltd
Address: Landmark Plaza, Argwings Kodhek Rd, Nairobi
Phone: 020 2010612
Doctors Of Hearing – (Hearing Aid Centre) Westlands, Nairobi
Address: Gallant Mall, Parklands Rd, Nairobi
Phone: 0705 112555
Hear Better Centre
Phone: 0707 838776
Address: Town House Kaunda, Nairobi
JOYFUL HEARING CENTRE
Address: KASARANI LONAK BUILDING, NAIROBI CITY
Phone: 0720 732729
Giants Hearing Centre
Located in: The Nairobi Hospital
Address: Kenya Medical Association Centre, Argwings Kodhek Rd, Nairobi
Phone: 020 2712958
Beam Hearing Centre
Address: Jameson Court( Between China Centre and National oil, Ngong Rd, Nairobi
Phone: 0721 650197
Haas Hearing Centre
Address: Argwings Kodhek Rd, Nairobi
Phone: 020 2710321
Starkey Hearing Technologies Limited
Address: Jadala Place, Ngong Lane, Ngong Rd, Nairobi
Phone: 0718 640996
House of Hearing International
Phone: 0722 748230
Address: Nairobi
The Aga Khan University Hospital
The Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi, established in 1958 is a 254-bed long-term care facility offering general medical services, specialist clinics and diagnostic services. The hospital receives referrals for specialised medical care and diagnostic services from various hospitals and clinics in the region.
Address: 3rd Parklands Ave, Nairobi
Hours: Open 24 hours
Phone: 0111 011888
Founded: 10 September 1958
Architect: Amyas Connell
Number of beds: 280
Architecture firm: CWL Connell, Ward, Lucas
Awards: RIBA Architectural Bronze Medal (Africa)
Opened: 10 September 1958
Function: Nursing home
