Articles of Interest
Red Flags

If we discover that a client has any of the "Red Flag" conditions listed below, we immediately refer he/she to a physician.

List of RED FLAG Conditions:

1. Visible congenital or traumatic deformity of the ear.
2. History of active drainage from the ear within the previous one (1) year.
3. History of sudden or rapidly progressive hearing loss.
4. Acute or chronic dizziness.
5. Asymmetrical hearing loss of greater than 30 dB at any frequency.
6. Audiometric air-bone gap equal to or greater than 15 dB at 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz.
7. Visible evidence of significant cerumen accumulation or a foreign body in the ear canal.
8. Pain or discomfort in the ear.
9. A child under the age of 16. The Hearing Aid Regulations require that a child must have previously consulted an otolaryngologist and an audiologist, and that the dispenser has copies of each diagnosis prior to testing, fitting or selling a hearing aid.

Please note: These Red Flags are set in place by the Ministry of Health Services, and the Ministry of Health Planning via the Board of Hearing Aid Dealers & Consultants, with input from the BC Medical Association - Department of Otolaryngology.

(rev. April /2001)