Dr. Sebastian Hendricks

Dr Sebastian Hendricks is a highly experienced Consultant in Paediatric Audiovestibular Medicine. Dr Hendricks is passionate about providing high-quality care with comprehensive testing, where the child and their family are central in the decision-making.

He specialises in complex and complicated audiological (hearing & balance) conditions affecting children. As a specialist paediatric trained person, he has a holistic approach and sees beyond the hearing or balance problem.

He was awarded:

• Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians, London
• Fellowship of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
• Principle Fellowship of the British Society of Audiology

Dr Hendricks qualified from the Hannover Medical School in 1991, before undertaking specialist training in various paediatric units in Germany, Austria, USA and Canada. He was recognised as a European Specialist for Paediatrics in 1998. Following this, he worked with colleagues in Qatar establishing a paediatric specialist polyclinic, before moving to the UK and working as a paediatrician in Hertfordshire.

In 1999 Dr Hendricks began his sub-specialist training in Audiovestibular Medicine, working in a number of renowned institutions including Great Ormond Street Hospital National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Royal Surrey County Hospital and the Royal National Throat Nose & Ear Hospital. During this time, he completed his Master's Degree in Audiological Medicine at the Institute for Child Health and was awarded Specialist Registration in Audiovestibular Medicine in 2004.

After completing his training, he was appointed Consultant and Clinical Lead for Paediatric Audiology and Audiovestibular Medicine for the Royal Free London NHS Foundation trust. He was in this position for over 15 years. During this time he was also an honorary consultant at the Nuffield Hearing & Speech Centre at the Royal National ENT & Eastman Dental Hospital (UCLH - University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust). Since August 2018 he was also asked to take over some specialist work at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

In April 2020, Dr Hendricks was appointed as permanent Consultant in Paediatric Audiovestibular Medicine at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).

Alongside his clinical work, Dr Hendricks is actively involved in audiovestibular research. His research interests include Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder, Auditory Evoked Potentials and Otitis Media (glue ear). His interest is also in developing new tools and systems for hearing. With Thomson Screening he developed the SchoolScreener, an automated assessment method to screen hearing in school-age children. A system that is used widely within the NHS in the UK and now also internationally. Further new systems are in development.

He also works with other companies to innovate how children and young people with hearing loss can live better.

Dr Hendricks is the honorary treasurer of the International Association of Physicians in Audiology and Medical Director of Thomson Screening. He was Chair of the Paediatric Audiology Interest Group (PAIG) and of the British Association of Audiovestibular Physicians and led various groups within the organisation. He is also a member of the British Association of Paediatricians in Audiology and was an active member of its Development Group.

Dr Hendricks loves to spend time with his two school-age children. He has detailed knowledge of the needs and complexities of children with additional needs. He is a school governor.

Diseases, Medical Tests and Treatments

• Paediatric Audiology
• Hearing Assessment and Management incl. complex and complicated cases
• Functional hearing loss (FHL)
• Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder
• Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)
• Second opinions for hearing issues
• Hearing problems
• Hearing difficulties
• Noise Sensitivity (Hyperacusis)
• Family history of hearing loss
• Acoustic Reflex Measures
• Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE)
• Pure Tone Audiometry
• Speech Audiometry
• Tinnitus Assessment and Management
• Tympanometry
• Vestibular Rehabilitation
• Vestibular Tests
• Auditory Processing assessment
• Acoustic Neuroma
• Balance Problems
• Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
• Deafness
• Eardrum Perforations
• Hearing Loss
• Otitis Externa
• Otitis Media (Glue Ear)
• Tinnitus
• Vertigo
• Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
• Risk assessment for hearing loss