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Audiology

Emergency Immediate transfer to the Emergency Department

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.

Adult

  • Hearing loss
    • Sudden loss or sudden deterioration of hearing (sudden = within 72 hours) (British Academy of Audiology, 2016)
  • Otitis media
    • Any suspicions of the complications of ASOM i.e. Mastoiditis (proptosis of pinna, meningitis etc
  • Vertigo/Vestibular
    • Recent sudden onset with neurological symptoms
  • Facial Nerve Palsy
    • Sudden onset facial weakness

 Paediatric

  • Paediatric Hearing loss
    • Sudden loss or deterioration
  • Paediatric Otitis media
    • Any suspicions Mastoiditis (proptosis of pinna), meningitis or other complication of ASOM
    • Trauma
    • New onset facial nerve palsy
  • Other referrals to emergency not covered within these conditions (Paediatric)
    • Foreign body
    • ENT conditions with associated neurological signs e.g. facial nerve palsy, profound vertigo and/or sudden deterioration in sensorineural hearing
    • Acute and/or complicated mastoiditis
    • Auricular haematoma
    • Significant head injury
    • Congenital abnormality of the head/neck
    • Meningitis/encephalitis

Are you referring to the right service?

  • General Practitioners are able to directly refer patients to a Queensland Health (QH) Audiologist.
  • QH Audiologists are able to offer diagnostic hearing assessments which can result in a recommendation of hearing aids or an ENT opinion; however, they do not fit hearing aids.
  • Queensland public hospitals do not dispense conventional or standard hearing aids.
  • Patients with mild, moderate or severe hearing loss, which is symmetrical, should be referred to a local hearing aid provider.
  • Hearing aids are provided for children, veterans and pensioners through the Office of Hearing Services, a division of the Federal Department of Health, and are dispensed by local audiology.

Adult

  • Cochlear Implants Adults (Audiology)– Concurrent ENT Referral Required (Logan Hospital Only)
  • Facial nerve palsy (Audiology) (PAH only)
  • Hearing Assessment (Audiology)
  • Hearing loss (Audiology)
  • Otitis Media (Audiology)
  • Tinnitus (Audiology)
  • Vertigo/Vestibular (Audiology) (Logan Hospital only)

Paediatric (All Paediatric Audiology services are only available at Logan Hospital)

  • Cochlear Implants Paediatric (Audiology) – cochlear implant programming only.
  • Hearing Assessment Paediatric (Audiology)
  • Paediatric Hearing loss (Audiology)
  • Paediatric Otitis media (Audiology)
  • Speech and language delay (Audiology)

Urgent referrals Arranging urgent review

To arrange a very urgent outpatient appointment, please phone the relevant hospital’s switchboard and ask to speak to the Registrar of the relevant specialty.

Conditions

Adults
Paediatric

Clinics/services

Clinic locations

  • Princess Alexandra Hospital
  • Logan Hospital

Out of scope services

The following are not routinely provided in a public Audiology service.

EXCLUDED 

  • Simple wax removal
  • Chronic tinnitus unless disabling and/or associated with vertigo, otalgia, otorrhoea, balance disturbance or aural fullness
  • Mild/brief orthostatic dizziness
  • Uncomplicated/chronic symmetrical hearing loss 
  • Cochlear implants or bone conduction implants for the treatment of single sided deafness in adults
  • Simple ear drum perforation as part of acute otitis media

EXCLUDED SERVICES

  • Aesthetic surgery
  • Diving assessments
  • Workers’ compensation hearing assessments
  • Central auditory processing assessments
  • Requests for hearing assessment following failed automated hearing screen (eg – pharmacy; online)
  • Provision of hearing aids*

*Except for Princess Alexandra Hospital crisis-care hearing aid bank. Qld Health Audiologists can offer diagnostic hearing assessments which may result in a recommendation for hearing aids or ENT opinion; however, they do not dispense conventional hearing aids. Both public and private hearing aids are dispensed by community audiologists. Publicly funded hearing aids are available to particular cohorts including veterans and pensioners through the Office of Hearing Services, a division of the Federal Department of Health and Ageing

Notes

  • Please note that where appropriate and where available, the referral may be streamed to an associated public allied health and/or nursing service.  Access to some specific services may include initial assessment and management by associated public allied health and/or nursing, which may either facilitate or negate the need to see the public medical specialist.
  • A change in patient circumstance (such as condition deteriorating, or becoming pregnant) may affect the urgency categorisation and should be communicated as soon as possible.
  • 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.

Out of catchment

Metro South Health is responsible for providing public health services to the people who reside within its boundaries. Special consideration is made for patients requiring tertiary care or services that are not provided by their local Hospital and Health Service.  If your patient lives outside the Metro South Health area and you wish to refer them to one of our services, inclusion of information regarding their particular medical and social factors will assist with the triaging of your referral.

Last updated 16 February 2024