Goulburn Valley Health Audiology Services
GP referral guide
A practical guide to help you identify the right service, make a referral and arrange urgent assessment when required.
At a glance
All appointments
Use the referral form (PDF) and email it to reception@gvhearingclinic.com.
Appointments at both GV Health Audiology and Goulburn Valley Hearing Clinic are made via our reception team on 03 5821 6600.
Children and young people
Refer patients under 18 years to GV Health Audiology. Assessments are provided free of charge.
Adult diagnostic assessment
Refer to GV Health Audiology. A means-tested co-payment may apply.
Adult diagnostic assessments, hearing aids and specialised testing
Refer to Goulburn Valley Hearing Clinic, 55 Edward Street, Shepparton. Fees apply.
URGENT: sudden hearing loss
Treat sudden sensorineural hearing loss as an otological emergency. Arrange immediate ENT or emergency department assessment and an urgent audiogram. When calling the clinic, clearly state that the hearing loss was sudden.
Who can refer?
Referrals are accepted from GPs and other doctors, ENT specialists, maternal and child health nurses, speech pathologists, school nurses and audiologists.
When should an adult be referred?
- Reported hearing difficulty or a noticeable change in hearing.
- Sudden or rapidly changing hearing loss – follow the urgent pathway above.
- Asymmetrical hearing loss, unilateral tinnitus or unexplained vertigo.
- Concern about retrocochlear or auditory neural pathology.
- Difficulty communicating despite hearing aids, or concern that hearing aids may no longer provide sufficient benefit.
- A need for diagnostic assessment, hearing-aid assessment or specialised occupational testing.
When should a child be referred?
Refer promptly when there is any concern about a child’s hearing. Parent or carer concern alone is a strong reason for referral.
- Speech or language delay.
- Recurrent or chronic otitis media.
- Family history or another risk factor for hereditary hearing loss.
- History of meningitis, cytomegalovirus (CMV), measles or mumps.
- Learning difficulties or behavioural concerns that may be related to hearing.
- Developmental disability or difficulty completing routine behavioural hearing tests.
What assessment is available?
| Assessment | When it may be used |
|---|---|
| Clinical hearing assessment | Pure-tone, speech and middle-ear assessment for adults and children, adapted to the patient’s age and abilities. |
| Paediatric assessment | Age-appropriate behavioural and objective testing, including assessment of newborns and children with disabilities. |
| Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) | Objective assessment of the auditory pathway. In adults, it may assist investigation of possible retrocochlear pathology; in infants, it forms part of diagnostic assessment. |
Where should the referral go?
GV Health Audiology
- Clinical Assessment (Pure Tone/Speech/Impedance).
- Paediatric Assessments (under 18 years old, including newborn diagnostic assessment).
- Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) assessment.
Adult appointments are usually 40 minutes. ABR appointments generally take 80–90 minutes.
Goulburn Valley Hearing Clinic – private clinic
- Hearing-aid assessment, prescription, fitting and rehabilitation.
- Private patients and eligible Hearing Services Program (HSP) clients, including pensioners and veterans.
- Ear wax removal.
- Assessment of WorkCover clients.
- Pre-employment testing and specialised testing for occupations (pilots, crane drivers and scuba divers).
- NDIS assessments.
- Custom ear protection.
Address: 55 Edward Street, Shepparton
After a paediatric diagnosis
If an aidable hearing loss is identified in a child, the audiologist will discuss the result with the family and arrange appropriate onward referral, which may include Hearing Australia, a cochlear implant service and early-intervention support.
Our audiologists
- Elizabeth Webster – BSpPath(Hons), MClAud, MAudA Accredited Audiologist
- Jasmine Gili – BBioMedSci(Hons), MClinAud, MAudA Accredited Audiologist
- Wade Gregory – BMus(Hons), MAudSt, MAudA Accredited Audiologist
All clinical staff are accredited audiologists.
Book or discuss a referral
One number for appointments at GV Health Audiology and Goulburn Valley Hearing Clinic.