Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2023C00151:reg:85:p2
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2023C00151
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 85 (pt 2/3)
Character Range: 309020–312421

loss.

The paired organs 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
TINNITUS
Impairment 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.
                              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.

No age adjustment permitted for this table

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
EARS
Impairment Ratings            Criteria
NIL                           Intermittent otalgia, intermittent otorrhoea, or both.
TWO                           Otitis externa.
FIVE                             Otalgia every day, but tolerable for much of the time.
                               Continuous otorrhoea.
TEN                           Frequent severe otalgia.
                              Only one rating is to be selected from this table for any condition or combination of conditions.

No age adjustment permitted for this table

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.

UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT AND NASAL CONDITIONS

Other Impairment Table 7.2.2
UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT AND NASAL CONDITIONS
Impairment Ratings                            Criteria
NIL                                           Intermittent post-nasal discharge, rhinorrhoea and/or sneezing.
TWO                                           Recurrent upper respiratory tract infection.
FIVE                                          Symptoms of rhinitis and sinusitis or both which are not relieved by medication and which