HNY Policy and Pathway Repository - Humber

• Guidelines for Adults aged 50+ with hearing difficulty
• Only patients aged 50 years old and over will be accepted on this pathway

Do Not Refer

Patients with the following symptoms are NOT suitable for direct referral:

• Abnormal appearance of the eardrum and/or outer ear, eg perforated eardrum, active discharge, otitis externa, middle ear fluid.
• Persistent otalgia in one or both ears – defined as earache lasting more than 7 consecutive days over a period of 90 days prior to consultation.
• History of discharge from either ear having occurred within the 90 days prior to the consultation.
• Subjective and/or perceptive asymmetric hearing loss between the two ears.
• Worsening of an existing hearing loss of sudden (24hours), rapid (less than 90 days) or recent (within 1 year) onset.
• Fluctuating hearing loss which is not associated with the common cold, 90 days before the consultation.
• Significant tinnitus (lasts for more than 5 minutes) which is unilateral, pulsatile or distressing to the patient (affecting sleep/lifestyle) which has occurred in the 90 days prior to consultation.
• Vertigo within the last 90 days – not to be confused with the general sensation of imbalance commonly associated with age.

GPs should refer the following to ENT

• Patients experiencing hearing losses with exclusions.
• Patients experiencing 90 days or more of discharge, rapid or fluctuating hearing loss, tinnitus and vertigo.
• Patients experiencing discharge from either a perforation and/or otitis externa.

Current hearing aid users requiring review are to contact the Audiology Department HEYHT directly for an appointment on Tel No. 01482 674501.

Audiology clinics run 0830-1700hrs Monday to Friday.

Only patients aged 50 years old and over will be accepted on this pathway.

Excessive wax must be removed prior to referral.

Audiology Guidelines