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Tinnitus (Audiology)

ADULT

Minimum Referral Criteria

  • Category 1
    (appointment within 30 calendar days)
    • Unilateral tinnitus and any of the following:
      • vertigo
      • hearing loss
      • otalgia
      • otorrhoea
    • Pulsatile tinnitus or disabling tinnitus with any of the following
      • vertigo
      • hearing loss
      • balance disturbance
    • Follow up of recent barotrauma event (air flight, diving or blast injury)
  • Category 2
    (appointment within 90 calendar days)
    • Unilateral, pulsatile or disabling tinnitus without any associated symptoms
  • Category 3
    (appointment within 365 calendar days)
    • Bilateral tinnitus

1. Reason for request Indicate on the referral

  • 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

2. Essential referral information Referral will be returned without this

  • Description of:
    • advise unilateral / bilateral
    • type (pulsatile/non-pulsatile), intensity, onset etc.
    • functional impact of tinnitus
    • any associated hearing/balance symptoms
    • ENT/Otological history (history of middle ear disease/surgery etc.)

3. Additional referral information Useful for processing the referral

  • Mechanism of injury (barotrauma)
  • Psychological history
  • Documented social modifiers on quality of life
  • Documented TMJ or recent dental work (dental/Physiotherapist as necessary)
  • Any intervention and its effect

4. Request

Last updated: 13 June 2023