Referral to emergency

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

  • nil

For clinical advice, please telephone the relevant metropolitan Local Health Network switchboard and ask to speak to the relevant specialty service.

Central Adelaide Local Health Network

Northern Adelaide Local Health Network

Southern Adelaide Local Health Network

Exclusions

Chronic tinnitus without associated features including:

  • vertigo
  • asymmetrical hearing loss documented on audiology
  • otalgia
  • otorrhoea and/or
  • balance disturbance

Triage categories

Category 1 — appointment clinically indicated within 30 days

  • nil

Category 2 — appointment clinically indicated within 90 days

  • nil

Category 3 — appointment clinically indicated within 365 days

  • unilateral pulsatile tinnitus
  • tinnitus with unilateral asymmetrical sensorineural hearing loss
  • severe communication difficulties due to hearing loss (bilateral down sloping or severe) despite hearing aid/s

For more on outpatient referrals, see the general referral information page.

Essential referral information

Completion required before first appointment to ensure patients are ready for care. Please indicate in the referral if the patient is unable to access mandatory tests or investigations as they incur a cost or are unavailable locally.

  • identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
  • relevant social history, including identifying if you feel your patient is from a vulnerable population and/or requires a third party to receive correspondence on their behalf
  • interpreter requirements
  • complete past medical history
  • current medication list including non-prescription medication, herbs and supplements
  • clinical history including:
    • onset, duration frequency and quality
    • functional impact
    • associated hearing/balance symptoms
    • intervention and associated outcomes
    • past history of middle ear disease/surgery
    • mechanism of injury (barotrauma)
  • diagnostic audiology assessment
  • relevant reports and results

Additional information to assist triage categorisation

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed retrocochlear pathology, including company and accession number.