"Audiology Appointment"

It was a long wait after my GP referred me, as I was long overdue a check up.

I had a call with a lovely member of staff, who I am sure was an audiologist, I just can't remember their name. She listened to any concerns I had and made notes, I was told I would be sent a questionnaire and that it is a bit of a wait but I am on the wait list. It may have been few weeks before I got an appointment letter with the questionnaire in it. Between referral and the appointment date it was about 8 months.

When I arrived to the appointment, I remember it was a bit awkward to work out where I needed to go, and a lot more walking, more than I was prepared for as I got sent down another corridor further from the main audiology department waiting room. I was about 2 weeks out from a back injury at the time and it was extremely painful to do all this walking.

The (not the person I spoke to originally) audiologist ran quite late, was a bit abrupt, wasn't interested in the questionnaire I had filled out, barely asked why I was there and just seemed like they wanted to rush everything, and barely explained things. I've had a lot of audiology tests, but I also appreciate the repetition of the explanation, especially if I've not met the person before.

There was a student in the room, which I would have struggled less with, had they not kept fidgeting and checking their phone throughout the appointment. Any concerns and questions I had were dismissed, with seemingly an attitude, and due to having been given hearing aids in the past, was told that was the only option available to me, and wouldn't listen to what I had to say.

Having been unable to focus or hear anything properly, along with the audiologists attitude the appointment ended and I left, unfortunately in tears, in the shortest appointment I've ever had in audiology.

Although this happened months ago, I've only now felt able to approach what happened. Wouldn't want another to experience this, from either the audiologist or the students in the room.