DISCLOSURE LOG - FOI 24/25-1946 DOCUMENT 1
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Hearing Impairments
The content of this document is OFFICIAL
Binaural (bilateral/cochlear implant in both ears) cochlear implants
Meet List A and an unaided audiogram is not required
Severe-Profound Hearing Loss - No Audiogram
For applicant’s with severe-profound hearing loss who do not have an audiogram, if there is sufficient functional information (i.e. Auslan is the primary mode of communication) and audiogram is preferred, but not required
Early Intervention – Hearing Requirements
For people aged between 0-25 years (under 26) with a hearing impairment, two adjacent inter-octave frequencies are any frequencies that are different to 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000. Audiogram testing can still be completed at the intervals between and outside of these octaves which is when an inter-octave frequency is determined.
The below are some examples of octave and inter-octave frequencies which you might see on an Audiogram. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list and only used as an example.
• 250Hz and 500Hz
• 500Hz and 750Hz
• 2000Hz and 3000Hz
Adjacent Frequencies – Early Intervention
Assessing hearing loss for people aged between 0-25 years (under 26), when considering the second dot point – ‘has confirmed results from a specialist audiological assessment (including electrophysiological testing when required) consistent with auditory neuropathy or the evidence (audiogram/table) requires hearing loss ≥ 25 decibels in either ear at 2 or more adjacent frequencies.
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FOI 24/25-1946
When assessing priority hearing cases for a child younger than 7. If the audiogram and the table included in the hearing form has only 2 recorded frequencies, these become the adjacent frequencies. This can be due to the difficulties associated with testing young children.
Below is an example of hearing loss in the right ear that is ≥ 25 decibels in either ear at 2 frequencies that are not adjacent. Therefore not meeting Early Intervention in line with 9.5.2 Early intervention for hearing impairment for people aged 0-25.
dec
Audiogram Requirement - Early Intervention
For the 0-25 year old cohort that have a primary impairment of hearing loss we need to have an audiogram attached with their access request if we are bringing them in under Our Guideline- What about people aged between 0 and 25 with a hearing impairment? This is because the audiogram determines if there are 2 adjacent frequencies where hearing loss is greater than or equal to 25 decibels. The exception to this is if the person is diagnosed with auditory neuropathy we do not need the audiogram.
If we have the table provided with the numbers, but no audiogram please contact the audiologist to confirm if an audiogram can be provided. In some circumstances they can’t. Please record this on the record and progress based on the table.
0-25 Hearing Loss – Clarification of Our Guidelines
The phrases of Long Term and Personal Amplification have been removed from Our Guidelines, however the way we assess has not changed.
• Long Term – As we are making a legislative decision, the evidence must demonstrate the hearing loss must be permanent, or likely to be permanent.
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FOI 24/25-1946
• Personal Amplification – being aged 0-25 and having hearing loss of at least 25 decibels in either ear, at 2 or more adjacent frequencies means that the hearing loss is at an “aidable” level. Therefore, if we can see that it was at an “aidable” level then this means it meets the criteria of requiring personal amplification. The reason it was removed from Our Guidelines is because the previous wording insinuated that personal amplification must be used, however there are a variety of reasons that a person may not use personal amplification.
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