When should I refer a patient with sudden sensorineural hearing loss to an ENT specialist?

Guideline-aligned answer with reasoning, red flags and references. Clinically reviewed by Dr Kola Tytler MBBS CertHE MBA MRCGP.

Posted: 22 August 2025Updated: 22 August 2025 Guideline-Aligned (High Confidence) Clinically Reviewed
Dr Kola Tytler MBBS CertHE MBA MRCGPClinical Lead • iatroX

When referring a patient with sudden sensorineural hearing loss to an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) specialist, the urgency of the referral depends on the timeline of the hearing loss .

  • Immediate Referral (within 24 hours): Refer immediately to an ENT service or an emergency department if the hearing loss developed suddenly (over a period of 3 days or less) within the past 30 days ,.
  • Urgent Referral (within 2 weeks):
    • If the hearing loss developed suddenly more than 30 days ago, refer urgently to an ENT or audiovestibular medicine service ,.
    • If the hearing loss worsened rapidly (over a period of 4 to 90 days), refer urgently to an ENT or audiovestibular medicine service ,.

It is important to first exclude external or middle ear causes, such as impacted wax or acute infections like otitis externa, before making these referrals .

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