External

Table 7 - Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders

The two Ear, Nose and Throat Tables are:

  • Table 7.1 - Hearing
  • Table 7.2 - Miscellaneous Ear Nose and Throat Disorders

Table 7.1 - Hearing

Hearing defects are assessed in accordance with the current procedures from the Australian National Acoustic Laboratories.

Once the binaural percentage loss of hearing has been calculated, it is then converted to a whole person impairment value.

The calculation for converting the percentage loss of hearing to a whole person percentage is:

Table 7.2 - Miscellaneous Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders

%

DESCRIPTION OF LEVEL OF IMPAIRMENT

0

ONE OR MORE of the following:

  • intermittent otorrhoea
  • intermittent otalgia and tinnitus
  • post nasal discharge, rhinorrhoea and sneezing
  • vertigo which does not interfere with any activities
  • other conditions which are controlled by medication or for which no medication is required

5

ANY ONE of the following:

  • permanent otorrhoea
  • complete loss of olfaction or taste
  • permanent tinnitus

10

ANY ONE of the following:

  • permanent otalgia
  • vertigo which interferes only with activities involving personal or public safety (for example, driving a car, operating machinery)

20

Vertigo which interferes with activities of daily living

25

Permanent tracheostomy or stoma

40

Vertigo which interferes with all activities except household duties and self care

60

Vertigo which interferes with all activities to the extent that only self care can be managed but all other activity is impossible

80

Vertigo such that the sufferer is confined to home and requires assistance with all activities including self care