Hearing loss - Confirmed
Adult

Ears, Nose, Throat (ENT)

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Emergency Referrals

Useful Management Information

Meningitis - There is a very high risk of ossification of cochlear structures (labyrinthitis ossificans) post bacterial meningitis (particularly Streptococcus pneumoniae), which can occur rapidly, and inhibit cochlear surgery. Any patient identified with significant hearing loss post-infection, should be referred to ENT urgently for radiological assessment and consideration of cochlear implantation. The association between viral meningitis and hearing loss is less clear. Audiology should be made for any child who has not yet had a hearing assessment following meningitis.

Medical management

Cerumen dissolving drops and possible suction or irrigation
Oral decongestant, Valsalva manoeuvres and re-evaluate after 3 weeks
For hearing aid wearers, refer to their local hearing aid provider to ensure optimal hearing aid fitting

Clinical resources

Refer eligible pensioners, veterans etc. to Office of Hearing Services (OHS) if eligibleOHS Eligibility Check
NICE Guidelines: Hearing loss in adults: assessment and management
Hearing Australia
Refer to Hearing Australia if:
younger than 26 years or
an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander who is over 50 years (also see other ATSI eligibility at OHS

Minimum Referral Criteria

Does your patient meet the minimum referral criteria?

Category 1 (appointment within 30 calendar days)	Confirmed hearing loss folloing meningitis (earliest possible appointment)
Category 2 (appointment within 90 calendar days)	New confirmed diagnosis of permanent hearing loss < 26 years < 26 years requiring ENT clearance of hearing aid fitting requested by hearing aid provider
Category 3 (appointment within 365 calendar days)	Chronic mixed or conductive hearing loss unable for medical reasons to use conventional hearing aids in both ears Chronic conductive hearing loss - for investigation/consideration of possible surgery (e.g., otosclerosis or other ossicular disorders, for consideration of bone conduction implant)

Standard Referral Information

Reason for request

To establish a diagnosis
For treatment or intervention
For advice and management
For specialist to take over management
Reassurance for GP/second opinion
For a specified test/investigation the GP can't order, or the patient can't afford or access
Reassurance for the patient/family
For other reason (e.g. rapidly accelerating disease progression)
Clinical judgement indicates a referral for specialist review is necessary

Relevant clinical information about the condition

Presenting symptoms (evolution and duration)
Physical findings
Details of previous treatment (including systemic and topical medications prescribed) including the course and outcome of the treatment
All conservative options that have been pursued unsuccessfully prior to referral
Body mass index (BMI)
Details of any associated medical conditions which may affect the condition or its treatment (e.g. diabetes), noting these must be stable and controlled prior to referral
Any special care requirements where relevant (e.g tracheostomy in place, oxygen required)
Current medications and dosages
Drug allergies
Alcohol, tobacco and other drugs use

Patient's Demographic Details

Full name (including aliases)
Date and country of birth
Residential and postal address including whether patient resides at an aged care facility
Telephone contact number/s – home, mobile and alternative
Medicare number (where eligible)
Name of the parent or caregiver (if appropriate)
Name of delegate and contact details (Department of Corrective Services)
Preferred language and interpreter requirements
Identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
Any special needs, access requirements and/or disability relevant to the referral

Referring Practitioner Details

Full name
Full address
Contact details – telephone, fax, email
Provider number
Date of referral
Signature
Nominated general practitioner’s details (if known), if the nominated general practitioner is different from the referring practitioner

Other relevant information

Willingness to have surgery (where surgery is a likely intervention)
Choice to be treated as a public or private patient
Compensable status (e.g. DVA, Work Cover, Motor Vehicle Insurance, etc.)

Essential Referral Information

Details of hearing aid clinic
Date of diagnosis of permanent hearing loss (if known)
Current diagnostic audiology assessment (Highly desirable where available and not cause significant delay)
Clarification of meningitis i.e., bacterial or viral (if applicable)

If a specific test result is unable to be obtained due to access, financial, religious, cultural or consent reasons a Clinical Override may be requested. This reason must be clearly articulated in the body of the referral.

Additional Referral Information

Information regarding any hearing aids or hearing devices and communication mode utilised by the patient e.g. Auslan
Speech discrimination testing
Previous audiology assessment

Send Referrals To

Smart Referrals

Preferred Method
About Smart Referrals

Secure Web Transfer

Gold Coast Health Service District

Internal Referrals

ENT (E-Blueslips)

Fax

(07) 5687 4497

Post

Booking and Referral Centre
Gold Coast University Hospital
1 Hospital Boulevard
Southport QLD 4215

Enquiries

1300 559 083

Related HealthPathways

No directly related pathways found

HealthPathways home page

Service Availability

Dr Jim Hallam

Medical Director Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT)

Facilities

Gold Coast University Hospital

If you would like to send a named referral, please address it to the specialist listed above, who will allocate a suitably qualified specialist to see the patient. Alternatively, you can view a full list of our specialists.

Hearing loss - ConfirmedAdult