Hearing and Balance Disorders: Achieving Excellence in Diagnosis and Management. Report of a Working Party
Royal College of Physicians. (2007).
London (United Kingdom): Royal College of Physicians, iii-65.
This is a guideline from the Royal College of Physicians of London providing recommendations on the service provision, manpower, and training necessary to effectively manage individuals with hearing and balance disorders. The target audience of this guideline is audiological physicians and audiology specialists involved in the management of children and adults with hearing and balance disorders.
Royal College of Physicians (United Kingdom)
Vestibular rehabilitation is a standard of care for individuals with dizziness and balance disorders and should be provided by clinicians with specialized training.
Audiologists are part of the multidisciplinary team that manage individuals with hearing and balance disorders. Audiovestibular physicians, pediatricians, and audiologists should work together to provide optimal services to adults and children with vestibular disorders.
Children with persistent dizziness/vertigo or imbalance problems for more than one month should be referred for an audiovestibular assessment.
"Audiologists should provide diagnostic auditory and vestibular services within the primary care/community service, while GPs [general practitioners], with additional training, should continue to provide medical care of the patient within this service" (p. xvi).
<p>Adults should be referred for an audiovestibular assessment when</p>
<ul>
<li>persistent dizziness/vertigo or imbalance problems exist for more than six weeks;</li>
<li>dizziness/vertigo or imbalance problems and a discharging and/or painful ear exists;</li>
<li>dizziness/vertigo or imbalance problems as a result of other neurological symptoms or other systemic symptoms exists;</li>
<li>acute vertigo (e.g., unable to stand) exists; and/or</li>
<li>dizziness/vertigo or imbalance problems associated with any eye movement abnormality other than nystagmus exists.</li>
</ul>
