Paediatric Hearing Loss Investigation Clinic (PHLIC)

Paediatric Hearing Loss Investigation Clinic (PHLIC) is a paediatric clinic for children and young people with a confirmed permanent hearing loss. Families see a paediatrician with expertise in hearing impairment, with a focus on investigation, care coordination and support planning following initial diagnosis.

PHLIC paediatricians work closely with the Audiology, Genetics and ENT departments at Monash Health. They also have regular meetings with the Cochlear Implant Clinic, and external early interventions services to improve collaborative care, communication and optimise the child’s journey.

A combined PHLIC / Genetics clinic is held each month. This is a collaboration between the Monash Children’s Hospital and Monash Genetics Department. The clinic provides the expertise of a paediatrician and genetic counsellor, with geneticist input.

Eligibility criteria

PHLIC accepts referrals for:

• children aged 0-4 years with confirmed permanent hearing loss and an accompanying audiogram OR
• children / young people aged 5-17 years with a new diagnosis of permanent hearing loss of at least moderate severity (>40dB in three or more frequencies) in one or two ears.
• Of note, referrals are for assessment only. Ongoing management is not available
• Referrals must be from a medical practitioner.

Please review our referral guidelines here prior to referring.

Other referral options for children with hearing loss include:

• For children living outside of the Monash catchment, consider if a closer service is available:
  • Royal Children’s Hospital: Caring for Children with Hearing Loss Clinic (CHIC)
  • Sunshine Hospital: Investigation of Newborns and Children with Hearing Impairment Clinic (SINCH)
  • University Hospital Geelong: Barwon Early Assessment of Child Hearing Clinic (BEACH),
  • Ballarat Base Hospital: Paediatric Specialist Clinics
• Referral to community based general or developmental paediatrician (public or private)
• Referral to General Paediatrics Clinic at Monash Children’s Hospital
• Referral to Monash General Genetics Service for genetic investigations
• Referral to ENT surgeon for advice regarding management options, acute treatment (within days of acute onset hearing loss) and referral to cochlear clinic if appropriate
• Ensure family are linked with Hearing Australia, as well as appropriate allied health support services (ECEI or NDIS)
• Referral to appropriate allied health support services eg speech therapist, psychologist
• Refer to CHAMP guidelines 2019 for advice on further investigations Childhood Hearing Australasian Medical Professionals network: Consensus guidelines on investigation and clinical management of childhood hearing loss – Sung – 2019 – Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health – Wiley Online Library

How to refer

Secure eReferral by HealthLink is now our preferred method of referral. Paediatricians can refer via HealthLink to Monash Health. Visit the Monash Health website to learn more.

Find up-to-date information about how to send a referral to Monash Health Specialist Consulting Clinics on the eReferrals page on the Monash Health website.

Enquiries:

• Email: scmonashchildrens@monashhealth.org
• Ph: (03) 8572 3005
• Fax: (03) 8572 3007

The Paediatric Hearing Loss Investigation Clinic (PHLIC) runs on a Thursday morning and is located at Specialist Clinic 1, Monash Children’s Hospital, Clayton.

Preparing for your appointment

Wait times for PHLIC vary and are triaged based on urgency. The current wait time can be over 12 months. Please obtain an updated referral if your child’s condition has changed and you feel a more urgent appointment is needed. This would be submitted via HealthLink.

What to bring:

• Recent audiogram
• Results of any investigations, such as congenital CMV testing, scans, or blood tests
• Any specialist letters or developmental assessment
• Your child’s MCHN (green) book
• Any assessment reports, such as Speech and Language Assessment, Cognitive assessment or school reports (if relevant).

Assessment and care through PHLIC

At the initial appointment, patients are assessed by a paediatrician. This typically is a 1 hour appointment, and includes a detailed history, including family history, examination and review of any investigations.

The paediatrician may discuss the role of medical investigations that are available to look for the cause of a child’s hearing loss. They may also give recommendations to support the child’s development, communication and wellbeing.

Typically, a child may require several appointments to investigate hearing loss. Following completion of investigations, the child is discharged from PHLIC, to a general or developmental paediatrician through a public, community or private clinic, or to GP care.