Despite growing awareness of the importance of early detection of hearing problems in children, surveys undertaken in recent years have consistently demonstrated late detection. In an attempt to improve this, Nottingham Health Authority started an open-access child audiology service to cover the 1 million population of Nottinghamshire. The records of the first 2000 cases referred to the new centre have been analysed in terms of audiological outcome. The findings are presented in a form which offers useful guidelines for service planning elsewhere.