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The primary criteria for the referral of a patient
for a medical or other specialist opinion and / or
treatment are as follows:
•
Visible congenital or traumatic deformity of
the ear;
•
History of active drainage from the ear in the
previous 90 days;
•
History of sudden or rapidly progressive
hearing loss in one or both ears within the
previous 90 days.
•
Acute or chronic dizziness;
•
Audiometric air-bone gap equal to or greater
than 15 dB at 500 Hz, 1000 Hz and 2000 Hz;
•
Visible evidence of significant cerumen
accumulation or a foreign body in the ear
canal;
•
Pain or discomfort in the ear;
•
Abnormal appearance of the eardrum and ear
canal such as:
- Inflammation of the external auditory canal,
- Perforated eardrum;
- Other abnormalities which the HCP
believes are of medical concern
The HCP may decide that a referral is not
appropriate or in the best interests of the patient
when the following applies:
•
When there is sufficient evidence that
the condition has been fully investigated
by a medical specialist and any possible
treatment has been provided;
•
The condition has not worsened or changed
significantly since the previous investigation
and / or treatment.
If the patient has given their informed and
competent decision not to accept advice to seek
a medical opinion, it is permissible to proceed
to recommend appropriate hearing aid systems
subject to the following considerations:
•
The recommendation will not have any
adverse effects on the patients health or
general well being;
•
The records confirm that all necessary
considerations about the patient’s best
interests have been made
