Hearing Loss

This condition is treated in the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) clinic.

Pre-referral work-up

History

All referrals should comply to the referral standards and include:

• Duration of hearing loss
• Bilateral or Unilateral
• Associated symptoms - vertigo, tinnitus, otalgia, otorrhoea

Examination

• Examination of ear - cerumen, effusion, normal

Tests

• Tuning fork findings for sudden loss
• Audiology report for chronic

Interim/GP management

To refer a patient with this condition, please see the ENT clinic page for the full referral process and templates.

• If cerumen present, use dissolving drops and irrigation or suction
• No referral required for bilateral symmetrical sensorineural hearing loss - refer for hearing aid assessment

For more information please see the HealthPathways Tasmania website.

Clinic appointments

🚩 Red location flags are clinical indicators of possible serious underlying conditions requiring further medical intervention. They may or may not indicate an emergency.

Emergency

🚩Sudden onset hearing loss with no clear aetiology

🚩Sudden onset hearing loss with vertigo and tinnitus

If you, or someone else, are experiencing a serious and life-threatening injury or illness call triple zero (000) immediately or go to the nearest Emergency Department.

Learn more about when to access emergency care and non-emergency care options if the injury or illness is not serious or life-threatening.

Urgent (Category 1)

• Children with associated ENT conditions - snoring, swallowing difficulties

Urgent referrals should be accompanied by a phone call to the Consultant/Registrar to organise urgent review and the referral must be faxed.

We will endeavour to see these patients within four weeks, or sooner if clinically indicated.

Availability

North

Launceston General Hospital
Level 3 - Specialist Clinics

Phone: 1300 977 694
Fax: 03 6777 5227

North West

Unavailable.
See HealthPathways Tasmania for more information

South

Wellington Clinics
Phone: 03 6166 0000
Fax: 03 6234 9454

To contact the on-call ENT Registrar, phone the switchboard on 03 6166 8308.