Tinnitus
Emergency referrals
All urgent cases must be discussed with the on call ENT Registrar. Contact through Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (07) 3646 8111 to obtain appropriate prioritisation and treatment.
Urgent cases accepted via phone must be accompanied with a written referral and a copy faxed immediately to the Central Patient Intake Unit: 1300 364 952.
Does your patient wish to be referred?
Minimum referral criteria
Does your patient meet the minimum referral criteria?
Category 1
Appointment within 30 days is desirable
- Recent onset unilateral tinnitus and any of the following:
- vertigo
- hearing loss
- otalgia
- otorrhoea
- Recent onset unilateral or bilateral pulsatile tinnitus or disabling tinnitus i.e.
- vertigo
- hearing loss
- balance disturbance
- Follow up of recent barotrauma event (air flight, diving or blast injury)
- At the recommendation of local audiologist (highlighting the clinical concerns along with previous audiological report/results)
Category 2
Appointment within 90 days is desirable
- No category 2 criteria
Category 3
Appointment within 365 days is desirable
- Chronic bilateral
NB Referral is not indicated unless tinnitus is disabling or associated with hearing loss, aural fullness and/or discharge or vertigo
If your patient does not meet the minimum referral criteria
Consider other treatment pathways or an alternative diagnosis.
If you still need to refer your patient:
- Please explain why (e.g. warning signs or symptoms, clinical modifiers, uncertain about diagnosis, etc.)
- Please note that your referral may not be accepted or may be redirected to another service
Other important information for referring practitioners
Not an exhaustive list
- Patients with acute barotrauma should be sent to emergency
- If cerumen present, use dissolving drops and irrigation or suction if available
- Arrange diagnostic audiological assessment/tinnitus assessment
- Patient education/tinnitus management advice
- Consider private MRI to exclude acoustic neuroma in unilateral tinnitus
- Chronic tinnitus – as above, and:
- private audiology for masking hearing aid
- consider cognitive behavioural therapy
- private audiology for hearing aid if hearing loss present\
- public/private audiology for patient education/tinnitus management advice
Referral requirements
A referral may be rejected without the following information.
Send referral
Hotline: 1300 364 938
Fax: 1300 364 952
Electronic: eReferral system
Mail: Metro North Central Patient Intake
Aspley Community Centre
776 Zillmere Road
ASPLEY QLD 4034
Health pathways
Access to Health Pathways is free for clinicians in Metro North Brisbane.
For login details email:
healthpathways
Login to Brisbane North Health Pathways:
brisbanenorth.