General Information
Patients referred to this service will be seen by Specialist Paediatric Audiologists but may not be seen by medical staff within the Audiology Department. The Clinical responsibility for patient?s treatment will remain with the General Practitioner, unless there is onward referral to an Associate Specialist in Audiology or to an ENT Consultant for further management.
Referral Guidelines
Patients must meet the following criteria before the Audiology department will accept the referral.
Please see vetting guidelines.
The following patients are suitable for direct referral to ENT:
Child referred with concern re hearing: From 8 months to 4 years
Paediatric ENT Clinics
Any child with referral mentioning significant snoring, nasal obstruction, obstructive sleep apnoea, frequent ear infections or tonsillitis should be redirected for ENT appointment.
Child referred with concern re hearing: From 4 to 6 years
Paediatric ENT Clinics
Referral directed to ENT if history of significant snoring, nasal obstruction, obstructive sleep apnoea, catarrhal, frequent ear infections or tonsillitis.
Referral where there is history of recent ENT surgery within past year with recurrence of symptoms or related complaints.
Children referred re hearing concern: From 6 to 18 years
ENT Clinics
Those whose referral indicates significant history relating to OME, tonsillitis, snoring or obstructive sleep apnoea as previously.
Referral where there is history of recent ENT surgery within past year with recurrence of symptoms or related complaints.