Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L01332:reg:85:p2
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L01332
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 85 (pt 2/3)
Character Range: 260334–263538

two is to be taken as the impairment rating (adjusted for the paired organs policy) for the accepted hearing loss.

 The paired organ policy is the subject of Chapter 21.

    TINNITUS

    Tinnitus is to be assessed if:

    + tinnitus is an accepted condition in its own right; or
+ tinnitus is present and any of the fifteen types of hearing loss is an accepted condition for the ear in which tinnitus is present.

    Tinnitus is not to be assessed when it is a rejected condition.

    Irrespective of whether there are any non-accepted conditions contributing to the tinnitus, the rating is not to be moderated by applying Chapter 19 (Partially Contributing Impairment).

    If impairment ratings are obtained for hearing loss and tinnitus both are to be included in the final combining of all impairment ratings by applying Chapter 18 (Combined Values Chart).

    To assess tinnitus, make the appropriate selection from Table 7.1.11 below.

Functional Loss
Table 7.1.11

       Impairment

TINNITUS
        Ratings Criteria

        NIL  No tinnitus or occasional tinnitus.

        TWO Very mild tinnitus: not present every day.
FIVE Tinnitus every day, but tolerable for much of the time. TEN              Severe tinnitus, eg of similar severity to that requiring
a masking device, present every day.

                 FIFTEEN Very severe tinnitus, present every day, causing distraction, loss of concentration and extreme discomfort, and regularly interfering with sleep.

   No age adjustment permitted for this table

Only one rating is to be selected from this table for any condition or combination of conditions.  If more than one rating is applicable, the higher rating is to be selected.

  PART 7.2: EAR, NOSE, AND THROAT

 The three tables in this Part are all Other Impairment tables.

 Impairment of speech is to be assessed by applying Chapter 5 (Neurological
 Impairment).

 Loss of balance is commonly paroxysmal and is usually best rated by applying
 Chapter 15 (Intermittent Impairment).

 Loss of taste and loss of smell are to be assessed by applying Chapter 5 (Neurological
 Impairment).

Other Impairment Table 7.2.1

     Impairment

EARS
     Ratings Criteria

     NIL  Intermittent otalgia, intermittent otorrhoea, or both. TWO Otitis externa.
                  * Otalgia every day, but tolerable for much of the time.
                  * Continuous otorrhoea.

             TEN              Frequent severe otalgia.

 No age adjustment permitted for this table

Only one rating is to be selected from this table for any condition or combination of conditions.

If accepted conditions affect both ears, they are to be rated together and only a single rating is to be given for them.

 Chapter 15 (Intermittent Impairment) may be applied for more severe or frequent aural conditions.

Other Impairment Table 7.2.2

         Impairment

     UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT AND NASAL CONDITIONS
         Ratings Criteria

                  NIL               Intermittent post-nasal discharge, rhinorrhoea and/or sneezing.

         TWO Recurrent upper respiratory tract infection.

                  FIVE            Symptoms of rhinitis