My Audiology Journey

Southwest Audiology Services is based in the beautiful seaside town of Exmouth in Devon.

Sam Humphries is a registered audiologist and hearing aid dispenser and the owner of Southwest Audiology Services, based in Exmouth, Devon. She has been qualified as a clinical audiologist for the past 20 years and has extensive specialist knowledge in the field of Audiology and hearing aids.

Southwest Audiology Services are listed on the professional registers of both HCPC and RCCP professional bodies. This ensures that minimum professional standards are adhered to and regulations are enforced. You can have confidence that you will be looked after by expert audiologists and hearing aid dispensers.

Southwest Audiology Services has many 5 star Trustpilot reviews. Check out the reviews and have confidence that you will receive outstanding service from us, whether for microsuction ear wax removal, hearing assessments, custom hearing protection, hearing aids or tinnitus management.

MY STORY

Welcome!

My name is Sam Humphries and I am a registered Clinical Audiologist (RCCP) and Hearing Aid Dispenser (HCPC protected title), and I live in beautiful, sunny Exmouth in Devon.

I have spent the last 20 years working in Audiology (Ears!), having qualified in 2003 at De Montford University in Leicester.

I worked for 12 years post-qualification as a NHS Audiologist at the RD&E Hospital in Exeter, and at various community hospitals throughout Exeter, Mid & East Devon (including Exmouth, Sidmouth and Budleigh Salterton). I also undertook domicillary (home) visits, managing more-often-than-not to get completely lost, as no sat nav or mobile phones to help back then!

In 2011, I proudly gained a Masters Degree in Rehabilitative Audiology at the University of Bristol. The specialist modules included tinnitus, adult rehabilitation and Audiology for those with complex needs.

In 2015, I embarked on a new challenge, and helped to set up and project-manage a

brand new hearing centre in Exeter city centre. I spent the following 3 years as

Principal Audiologist and Hearing Centre Manager, dispensing private hearing aids and connectivity devices, and providing custom hearing protection and other specialist Audiology services. I also gained an additional qualification during this hectic time, the Institute of Acoustics Certificate of Competence in Workplace Noise Risk Assessments - in short, this means that I am able to carry out workplace noise risk assessments/noise surveys, and provide written reports and custom hearing protection, in addition to conducting diagnostic audiometry.

I then spent 3 years, (with a lockdown gap to work for NHS Test & Trace), as a

Locum Audiologist working at various NHS hospitals, testing hearing (both adults and paediatrics) and fitting adult hearing aids. I also saw patients with learning and other complex needs, and fitted a wide range of hearing aids from a range of hearing aid manufacturers (including CROS, BICROS and Tinnitus Combination aids).

My interest in Audiology stemmed from having spent many hours of my childhood and teenage years in various Audiology and ENT departments with a common childhood ear condition, called 'glue ear'. I have had several operations on my ears, including several sets of grommets inserted, and also suffer from tinnitus, which I have learned to cope with over the years.

I wear a hearing aid for the times when my fluctuant hearing deteriorates; modern stylish hearing aids that connect to, and can be controlled by mobile phones, being a far cry from the beast that I wore as a self-conscious teenager!

I founded Southwest Audiology Services in August 2021 as I wanted to provide the very best in independent Audiology services. To give my time and my expertise to allow informed decision-making, without delays, bias, limited testing or choices, time pressures or long waiting lists. Check out my excellent trustpilot reviews!

Many GP surgeries, for example, no longer provide ear wax removal services for patients, causing unnecessary pain and hearing loss through occluding wax. One of the many services that SAS offer is 'gold standard' microsuction ear wax removal, which includes a free ear health check and video otoscopy (pictures of the ear drums), and tympanometry if wax is not causing the issue (in case a middle ear function problem is causing the blocked feeling).

As a Clinical Audiologist I can recognise ear abnormalities and make an onward referral if needed to a GP, Ear, Nose & Throat Consultant or to the nearest A&E department!

In my spare time I like to walk along our beautiful coastline, play golf (badly!), read, attempt to conquer cryptic crossword puzzles, listen to live music and go to the theatre.