Stephen Fairfield – Founder and Principal Audiologist at Fairfield Hearing
Stephen Fairfield is the founder and principal audiologist at Fairfield Hearing, with more than 35 years of continuous clinical practice in Edinburgh.
An HCPC-registered Hearing Aid Dispenser, he provides comprehensive hearing assessments, independent hearing aid advice, microsuction ear wax removal and personalised long-term hearing care at Fairfield Hearing’s two Edinburgh clinics and through home visits.
BSc (Hons) Clinical Audiology, University of Manchester (1989) | Audiologist in Edinburgh since 1989 | 35+ years clinical practice
One of Edinburgh’s Most Experienced Independent Audiologists
Stephen qualified from Manchester University in 1989, the same year all-digital hearing technology was beginning to transform the profession, and returned to Edinburgh to join his father David Fairfield’s well known practice.
He would go on to grow that practice into the largest independent audiology operation in Scotland, with clinics across Edinburgh, Galashiels, St Andrews, Perth, Glasgow, and as far south as Morpeth in Northumberland.
In 2019, Stephen and his sister Ruth Porteous stepped back from that larger commercial enterprise to do what they love most: provide genuinely personalised hearing healthcare at the highest clinical standard, without commercial compromise.
Fairfield Hearing was their deliberate return to exactly that.
EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION
Qualifications & Registrations
Stephen holds all qualifications and registrations required for an audiologist practising at the highest private clinical level in the United Kingdom.
His HCPC registration as a Hearing Aid Dispenser is a legal requirement of practice and is subject to ongoing continuing professional development and revalidation.
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BSc (Hons) Clinical Audiology
University of Manchester – awarded 1989. Covering audiological assessment, hearing aid technology, aural rehabilitation, and clinical methodology.
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HCPC Registered Hearing Aid Dispenser
Health and Care Professions Council.HCPC registration number HAD00366.Verify at hcpc-uk.org -
AIHHP Member & Former Chair
Association of Independent Hearing Healthcare Professionals, the UK’s leading professional body for independent audiologists. Stephen served as Chair, the most senior elected position in the organisation.
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BSHAA Member
British Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists, the primary professional membership body for dispensing audiologists in the UK, upholding standards of clinical excellence and continuing professional development.
CAREER JOURNEY
A Career Built on Clinical Excellence
Stephen’s career in audiology spans the entire digital era of the profession, from the first all-digital hearing aids of the early 1990s through to today’s AI-driven, deep neural network devices.
Few audiologists in the UK can claim continuous clinical practice across that entire arc of technological change.
The Fairfield Legacy Begins
Stephen’s father, David Fairfield, one of the UK’s pioneering audiologists, establishes Edinburgh’s first independent audiology practice at Stafford Street in the West End.
David was at the forefront of transistor hearing aid technology, later becoming instrumental in the adoption of microprocessor and multi-channel amplitude compression hearing aids in Scotland.
Qualification & First Clinical Steps
Stephen qualifies with a BSc (Hons) in Clinical Audiology from the University of Manchester and joins his father’s Edinburgh practice as a junior audiologist.
He begins his clinical career at a watershed moment in audiology, the transition from analogue to all-digital hearing technology.
Appointment to National Advisory Bodies
Stephen is appointed to the Scottish Government (then Scottish Executive) Audiology Advisory Group, advising on hearing healthcare policy at a national level, and joins the Audiology Advisory Board at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, contributing to the development of the next generation of audiology professionals.
Building Scotland’s Largest Independent Practice
Stephen takes over as principal of the family practice and oversees its expansion into Scotland’s largest independent audiology group, with branches in Edinburgh, Galashiels, St Andrews, Perth, Glasgow, and Morpeth, England.
His sister Ruth Porteous, a qualified aural care practitioner, joins from the NHS to help lead the growing team.
Chair of the AIHHP
Stephen serves as Chair of the Association of Independent Hearing Healthcare Professionals (AIHHP), the UK body dedicated to promoting clinical excellence within independent audiology.
This most senior elected role in the UK independent hearing sector recognised his standing as one of the profession’s leading voices.
Founding Fairfield Hearing
Stephen and Ruth make a deliberate decision to leave the larger commercial practice they had grown and return to their roots: genuinely personalised, clinically uncompromised hearing healthcare.
Fairfield Hearing is established, reopening at the original Stafford Street address their father had made famous.
Innovation Adviser: HearLead Hearing Screening Technology
Stephen is recruited by the HearLead project, an Edinburgh-backed initiative developing next-generation hearing loss screening technology, to provide clinical insight from a retail audiology perspective.
His involvement, funded by Archangel investment, is featured in The Scotsman. The technology may eventually allow fast, detailed hearing screening to be conducted outside specialist clinical environments.
Continuing Clinical Practice & Team Development
Stephen continues as Edinburgh’s most experienced independent audiologist, leading a growing team including specialist audiologist Louise Stewart BSc (Hons) and newly qualified Hearing Aid Dispenser Sophie Halliday, while maintaining his own full clinical caseload of hearing assessments, hearing aid fittings, and ear wax removal across two Edinburgh clinics and via home visits.
Areas of Clinical Practice
Stephen’s 35 years of daily clinical practice, fitting hearing aids and conducting hearing assessments every working day throughout his career, means he has encountered and resolved virtually every configuration of hearing loss, device challenge, and patient circumstance that Edinburgh’s hearing healthcare community presents.
This depth of hands-on experience is, as he puts it himself, the thing he is most proud of.
- Comprehensive Hearing Assessments: Pure tone audiometry, speech discrimination testing, tympanometry, and full audiogram reporting. Every assessment is conducted using calibrated clinical-grade equipment.
- Hearing Aid Selection & Fitting: Fully independent hearing aid recommendation across all leading manufacturers such as Phonak, Oticon, Signia, Widex, Starkey, and ReSound, with no commercial incentive to favour any one brand. All fittings use Real Ear Measurement (REM) for precision calibration.
- Microsuction Ear Wax Removal: The gold-standard clinical technique recommended by ENT specialists. Stephen and his team use professional-grade suction equipment under direct observation for safe, controlled wax removal with no water or syringing.
- Tinnitus Assessment & Support: Hearing assessments for tinnitus, with referral pathways for patients requiring specialist tinnitus therapy or audiological rehabilitation.
- Balance Consultations: Vestibular function assessments for patients experiencing dizziness, vertigo, or balance disturbances associated with auditory conditions.
- Home Visit Hearing Assessments: Full clinical-grade hearing assessments conducted in the patient’s own home using portable audiometric equipment, across Edinburgh, the Lothians, and throughout Scotland.
- Hearing Assessments for Industrial Hearing Damage: Specialist assessments for patients whose hearing loss may be attributable to occupational noise exposure, with appropriate audiometric documentation.
- Custom Ear Protection: Custom-moulded hearing protection for musicians, industrial workers, and individuals requiring specific acoustic filtration.
Why Independence Matters in Audiology
Stephen’s unwavering commitment to independence is not merely a business model, it is a clinical principle that goes back to his father’s values.
David Fairfield’s ethos, as Stephen describes it, was always to treat others as he would want to be treated himself: to recommend what is genuinely right for the patient, not what is commercially convenient for the practice.
This means that every hearing aid Stephen recommends is chosen purely on the basis of your individual hearing profile, your lifestyle, your communication needs, and your budget.
Fairfield Hearing has no commercial ties to any manufacturer.
Stephen has never, and will never, receive incentives for recommending one brand over another.
Stephen has spoken openly about the difference between NHS and private hearing healthcare, not to position one as superior, but to help patients understand their options.
NHS hearing aids are clinically effective and available free of charge; private audiology offers greater device choice, faster access, and the kind of ongoing one-to-one relationship that is difficult for the NHS to sustain at scale.
His job is to help patients make an informed decision about what is right for them.
He is equally direct about the limitations of online hearing tests, the risks of unqualified wax removal services, and the importance of a proper audiometric assessment before any hearing aid is recommended.
In his view, a hearing aid fitted without a thorough diagnostic assessment is a hearing aid that will never perform at its best.
In the Press
Stephen’s clinical reputation and his family’s extraordinary Edinburgh heritage have attracted national media attention on multiple occasions, reinforcing his standing as one of Scotland’s leading voices in hearing healthcare.
THE SCOTSMAN – MARCH 2024
“An Edinburgh audiologist has played a crucial role in one of the most exciting scientific advances in hearing healthcare in decades… Stephen Fairfield, who runs Fairfield Hearing in the city, was recruited to offer retail audiology insight to the firm working on the new HearLead screening tool.”
Source: The Scotsman, 27 March 2024
THE SCOTSMAN – AUGUST 2021
“Stephen Fairfield is one of the leading audiologists in Scotland, with more than 33 years’ experience working in the industry… His expertise has also led him to sit on the Scottish Government Audiology Advisory Group as well as the audiology advisory board at Queen Margaret University College.”
Source: The Scotsman, 27 August 2021
THE SCOTSMAN – MARCH 2022
“There has been a Fairfield testing people’s hearing, fitting hearing aids and looking after aural healthcare in the city since 1969… The Fairfield family has been helping people with their hearing for six decades now.”
Source: The Scotsman, 18 March 2022
The Fairfield Hearing Story, A 55-Year Edinburgh Tradition
Stephen’s commitment to audiology is inseparable from his family’s history. David Fairfield, Stephen’s father, was one of the UK’s genuine pioneers of hearing healthcare.
David began his career as an optician in Southampton in the 1950s, transitioning to hearing aids during the earliest days of transistor technology, when hearing aids were still bulky, battery-heavy devices that bore little resemblance to the near-invisible instruments of today.
In 1969, David moved to Edinburgh to establish the city’s first dedicated independent audiology practice at Stafford Street, the very address that Fairfield Hearing occupies today.
He was instrumental in bringing microprocessor hearing aid technology to Edinburgh patients and dedicated personal time to working with deaf children in the Scottish Borders, reflecting a commitment to serving the broader community that Stephen has carried forward.
Stephen has described his father as “one of the grandfathers of modern-day audiology”, a figure at the forefront of every technological transition the profession experienced across five decades.
Stephen’s own career has similarly spanned a period of radical change: from high-speed digital processors to Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids, and now to AI-driven devices that use deep neural networks to separate speech from background noise in real time.
The Fairfield name in Edinburgh audiology is not a marketing claim.
It is a 55-year record of continuous service to Edinburgh patients, verifiable through decades of press coverage, professional appointments, and the personal testimonials of patients whose parents and grandparents were themselves cared for by the Fairfield family.
Questions About Stephen Fairfield
What are Stephen Fairfield's qualifications?
Stephen Fairfield holds a BSc (Hons) in Clinical Audiology from the University of Manchester, awarded in 1989.
He is a HCPC-registered Hearing Aid Dispenser (registration number HAD00366), a member of the British Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists (BSHAA), and a member and former Chair of the Association of Independent Hearing Healthcare Professionals (AIHHP).
His HCPC registration can be verified at hcpc-uk.org.
How long has Stephen Fairfield been practising in Edinburgh?
Stephen Fairfield qualified as a clinical audiologist in 1989 and has practised in Edinburgh continuously ever since, giving him over 35 years of Edinburgh-based clinical experience.
He is the second generation of the Fairfield family in Edinburgh audiology; his father David Fairfield established the original practice in 1969, meaning the Fairfield name has been present in Edinburgh hearing healthcare for over 55 years.
Is Stephen Fairfield registered with the HCPC?
Yes. Stephen Fairfield is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a Hearing Aid Dispenser, registration number HAD00366.
HCPC registration is a legal requirement for practising as a Hearing Aid Dispenser in the UK and involves ongoing continuing professional development and periodic revalidation.
His registration status can be confirmed directly at hcpc-uk.org.
What is the AIHHP and why did Stephen Fairfield serve as Chair?
The Association of Independent Hearing Healthcare Professionals (AIHHP) is the UK’s leading professional body representing independent audiologists and private practice owners.
The Chair is the most senior elected position within the organisation.
Stephen’s election as Chair reflected his national standing within the UK independent audiology community and his long track record of clinical excellence and sector development.
He also served on the Scottish Government Audiology Advisory Group and the Queen Margaret University Audiology Advisory Board.
Does Stephen Fairfield carry out home visit hearing tests?
Yes. Fairfield Hearing offers home visit hearing assessments and hearing aid fittings across Edinburgh, the Lothians, and throughout Scotland.
These are full clinical assessments using portable, calibrated audiometric equipment, not screening tools.
If you are unable to travel to the Stafford Street or Wardie Avenue clinic, please call 0131 378 5800 to arrange a home visit appointment.
Why did Stephen Fairfield found Fairfield Hearing in 2019?
Stephen and his sister Ruth Porteous grew the original family practice into Scotland’s largest independent audiology group.
In 2016, Stephen sold the business but remained to support its operations.
In 2019, having recognised that growth had made genuinely personalised care harder to deliver at scale, Stephen and Ruth made the deliberate decision to step back and establish Fairfield Hearing, a return to smaller, family-run, individually focused hearing healthcare at the highest clinical standard.
About The Author
BSc (Hons) Clinical Audiology
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BSc (Hons) Clinical Audiology, University of Manchester (1989) | HCPC Registered Hearing Aid Dispenser (HAD00366) | Member, British Academy of Audiology (BAA) | Scottish Executive Advisory Board for Audiology
Stephen Fairfield qualified in clinical audiology from the University of Manchester in 1989 and has practised in Edinburgh for over 35 years, making him one of the most experienced independent audiologists in Scotland.He founded Fairfield Hearing following the sale of a larger group practice, returning to genuinely personalised, unhurried hearing care.During his career he has chaired the Association of Independent Hearing Healthcare Professionals, sat on the Scottish Executive Advisory Board for Audiology, and contributed to clinical education at Queen Margaret University.
BEYOND THE CLINIC
Stephen Away From Audiology
Outside the clinical environment, Stephen is a committed Edinburgh resident who enjoys everything the city and its surroundings offer.
He is an enthusiastic cyclist and walker, well acquainted with the routes through Holyrood Park, along the Water of Leith, and into the hills beyond the city boundary.
He is also a keen gardener and, in his own words, a very amateur jazz pianist.
Those who know Stephen describe him as genuinely, naturally interested in the people he sees, less the clinical professional asking formulaic questions and more the attentive listener building an understanding of someone’s actual life before suggesting anything at all.
That quality, which comes through in patient reviews with striking consistency, is perhaps the most reliable indicator of a clinician who has never forgotten why he chose the profession.
AT A GLANCE
HCPC Registration Verified
Stephen Fairfield is a registered Hearing Aid Dispenser. Registration No. HAD00366. Independently verifiable at hcpc-uk.org.
CONTENT & CLINICAL REVIEW
What our customers say
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Graham (Google Review)I am very fortunate to have been able to go down the private route for hearing aids, and I am aware that for a great many people that is not possible. Should it be an option, I would recommend Fairfield Hearing without hesitation.
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Alistair CampbellI have had my Phonak hearing aids from Fairfield Hearing for a couple of months and have been very pleased with the quality of the equipment.
The personal service from Glen at Fairfield Hearing has been first-rate. I have just had a follow-up meeting with him today and resolved every outstanding gap in my knowledge.
The benefit of consulting a qualified audiologist is substantial. My initial session was a whole afternoon identifying my condition and what was right for me.
I would be happy to recommend Fairfield to anyone.
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AEThe service delivered by Fairfield Hearing is exceptional.
The staff are welcoming and the atmosphere is relaxed and friendly.
My hearing loss was evaluated quickly and efficiently and an appropriate solution offered.
Each stage of the process was clearly explained with reference to the data from the technology used.
I have also been impressed and reassured at the ongoing support available, with an appointment easily arranged by email for any issues or queries arising.
I chose Fairfield Hearing for my hearing needs on the basis of are recommendation and I am very happy to recommend Fairfield Hearing to others without hesitation.
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Callum Edwards DrumsAbsolutely excellent service! Can highly recommend.
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Jack AdairExcellent service for a very reasonable price! Ruth was great and able to fit me in around my schedule.
My hearing is far better now! Would recommend them to anyone considering.
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Ana Andreas DiazExcellent service! Stephen is very professional and thorough.
The customer service was great and I will certainly be contacting Fairfield Hearing if I have any hearing issues in the future.
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Pat WilsonFairfield Hearing is the best audioligist in Edinburgh.
The staff cannot do enough for you, and the back up is 5 star 👍
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Vicky AndersonMy son had an appointment with Ruth Porteous, and Wow, what a service.
From phoning reception to the end of the appointment, it was brilliant. My son has autism and ADHD we had been going to the doctors for over a year and a half, his ear was blocked with wax didn’t like having oil put in, which is all the doctors would do for him.
I contacted Fairfield Hearing and got 110% from the minute I called. I explained what we experienced with the doctors.
Fairfield Hearing went above and beyond to cater for my son – nothing but 5-star treatment. Ruth managed to clear the blockage within minutes. Very professional, explained everything clearly and was absolutely amazing with my son. I’d highly recommend Ruth and her team, we will most definitely return.
I can’t thank Ruth enough. My son can now hear better but can’t get out of not cleaning his room. haha.
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David AirdI made an appointment for wax removal and an inspection of my ears. Ruth was most friendly but at the same time professional. She had access to state-of-the-art equipment. This enabled a screen view of the ear enabling me, also, to see what was needed.
Would have no hesitation in recommending Fairfield Hearing.
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Lauren HallidayWould highly recommend this lovely practice and I will definitely be going back here for further treatment! Lovely staff. Sophie who greeted me at the door, was very friendly and then Ruth who dealt with my treatment, who was very nice and put me at ease!
The treatment was painless and was a very pleasant experience. I would be giving 10 stars if I could! 🙂
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Luke ScottI could not recommend Fairfield hearing enough. From making the appointment to the hearing aid fit, everything was effortless and so easy.
I can’t thank Stephen and his team enough for going above and beyond what any other practice would have done. Thanks to the Fairfield team.
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Kevin FloydI have known Stephen and Ruth for 40 years. I have been going to the Fairfield’s for as long as I can remember. I have had other services in the past, but nothing can match the Fairfield Hearing service.
Second to none and make you feel like family. Would have no hesitation in recommending them to anybody who needs specialist ear care.
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Phil GrayI’m going to leave two reviews; one as a customer and the second as a healthcare professional.
As a customer, Stephen treated me with respect and as an individual. He was clear in his explanations of procedures and ensured my comfort throughout the consultation.
Stephen is an expert in his profession and absolutely the loveliest man to have looking after my hearing.
As a registered nurse I am more than aware of the professional standards that are expected of healthcare professionals. Stephen exceeds all expected standards in the most caring and professional way. His experience is obvious and expert knowledge is second to none.
A credit to his profession and the standard by which all other healthcare professionals should replicate.
I 100% recommend Stephen and his team to anyone who is experiencing difficulties in their hearing.
With heartfelt gratitude, thank you, Stephen.
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KRAn utterly fantastic experience which comes primarily from dealing with Stephen!
The same person each time, he goes well above and beyond the call of duty, to give you the best possible hearing care.
Goodbye high street anonymity and endless frustration, hello personal service from someone who actually cares about you and understands the difficulties faced by those experiencing the isolation of hearing loss.
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