Audiology

  • If any of the following are present or suspected, please refer the patient to the emergency department (via ambulance if necessary) or follow local emergency care protocols or seek emergent medical advice if in a remote region.

    Adult

    • Hearing loss with associated neurological signs
    • Sudden / Rapid onset unilateral or bilateral hearing loss    
      (direct phone contact with the ENT registrar on call to discuss the case and arrange review as clinically appropriate)

    Paediatric

    • Paediatric Hearing loss
      • Sudden loss or deterioration
    • Paediatric Otitis media
      • Any suspicions Mastoiditis (proptosis of pinna), meningitis or other complication of ASOM
      • Trauma
      • New onset facial nerve palsy
    • Other referrals to emergency not covered within these conditions (Paediatric)
      • Foreign body
      • ENT conditions with associated neurological signs e.g. facial nerve palsy, profound vertigo and/or sudden deterioration in sensorineural hearing
      • Acute and/or complicated mastoiditis
      • Auricular haematoma
      • Significant head injury
      • Congenital abnormality of the head/neck
      • Meningitis/encephalitis

  • Please note this is not an exhaustive list of all conditions for outpatient services and does not exclude consideration for referral unless specifically stipulated in the CPC out of scope section.

  • The following are not routinely provided in a public Audiology service.

    • Hearing Aid dispensing (Hearing service program)
    • Workers Compensation Hearing Tests
    • Diving Assessments
    • Central auditory processing assessment
    • Cochlear Implants or Bone Conduction implants for the treatment of Single Sided Deafness in Adults

    Queensland public hospitals do not dispense conventional or standard hearing aids. Aids for children, veterans, pensioners, ADF or NDIS participants with hearing needs are fitted by local audiologists via application to the Australian Government Hearing Services Program (Hearing service program). For non-eligible patients with a symmetrical mild, moderate or severe hearing loss, refer to a local private hearing aid provider.

    Queensland Health Audiologists provide diagnostic hearing assessments which may result in a recommendation for hearing aids and/or an ENT opinion, but not the fitting of hearing aids.

Last updated: 3 June 2022

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