Make a cochlear implant referral or bone conduction implant referral for your adult patients. We work alongside you from assessment through to long-term care.
GP / Surgeons
Medical Professionals
A trusted voice to guide difficult decisions
Patients rely on their doctors to guide decisions about their health. For hearing loss, GPs and ENT surgeons are often the first point of contact. We support you with up-to-date candidacy information, clear clinical reports and a dedicated implant team.
General Practitioners
Early referral makes a real difference.
Supporting GPs with hearing implant referrals
Keeping up to date across every specialty is a big ask. Hearing implant candidacy has changed a lot in recent years, and many adults who could benefit are never referred. Our implant audiologists and ENT surgeons can help you decide whether an assessment is the right next step.
Common questions from GPs
- My patient has struggled with hearing aids for years. Should they be assessed?
If they still struggle to follow conversation with well-fitted hearing aids, especially in noise or on the phone, yes. A candidacy assessment will show whether an implant may help. - Is there an age limit?
There’s no upper age limit. We see adults aged 18 and over, and suitability depends on hearing and general health. - Can a hearing implant help hearing loss in one ear?
Yes. Cochlear implants and bone conduction implants can both be options for single-sided deafness, depending on the type of hearing loss. - What about previous ear disease or surgery?
Often, yes. Our ENT surgeons regularly assess patients with chronic ear disease or previous ear surgery. Some patients need the ear disease treated first, or combined surgery. - Will the cost be covered?
This depends on the patient’s private health insurance or public pathway. Our team discusses funding options with every patient at their assessment.
How Can I Identify If A Patient May Be A Candidate For A Cochlear Implant?
The impact of hearing loss on daily life through anecdotal reports is an important precursor to identifying potential cochlear implant candidates.
Your patient’s own account of their daily hearing difficulties is often the first sign. Common concerns raised by patients or their family include:
- Limited benefit with appropriately fitted hearing aids
- Difficulty on the telephone
- Reliance on visual cues for successful communication
- Family and friends report that the patient experiences communication difficulties even with the use of amplification
- Patient has family make appointments for them
- Patient reports that noise significantly impacts speech perception.
General Candidacy Guidelines
The guidelines below show when to consider a referral for an implant assessment. You don’t need to be certain your client is a candidate. That’s what the assessment is for.
Explore Specific Device Information
We offer detailed insights on each hearing device, including functionality, suitability, and personalised recommendations based on individual hearing needs.
Surgeons
Hearing implants are now part of everyday ear surgery.
Surgeons Need A Clear Pathway By Which To Partner With Audiologists
Hearing implant outcomes depend on more than surgical success. Pre-operative counselling, device programming and long-term rehabilitation all shape how well a patient does. Our in-house implant audiologists provide this care, in Sydney and across regional NSW.
Otology and hearing implant surgery are merging
Candidacy criteria for unilateral and bilateral hearing loss continue to expand. Many patients need surgery for underlying ear disease, such as chronic otitis media, Ménière’s disease or advanced otosclerosis. A hearing implant may also be an option, either at the same time or as a staged procedure.
We support ENT surgeons who wish to offer hearing implants as part of their practice.
Surgeons Need To Team With Audiologists For Cochlear Implant Candidacy
Modern cochlear implantation needs close collaboration between surgeon and audiologist. Surgical considerations include combined procedures, implant and electrode choice, hearing preservation and long-term MRI compatibility.
Audiological considerations matter just as much. These include the patient’s lifestyle, their use of connected technology, and compatibility with a hearing aid in the other ear. Our implant audiologists provide this long-term support and help patients make informed decisions.
We share detailed clinical reports, hold regular multidisciplinary team meetings, and run education events for surgeons and referrers.
Submit A Referral
To refer a patient, email us or call 0458 550 055. Please include recent audiology results where available. We’ll keep you informed at every stage of your patient’s care.
Direct Referral
