Conductive hearing loss — DVA SoP factors

Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 81 of 2019

At least one of the following factors must as a minimum exist before it can be said that a reasonable hypothesis has been raised connecting conductive hearing loss or death from conductive hearing loss with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:

1. (1)
   having otosclerosis on the affected side at the time of the clinical onset of conductive hearing loss;
2. (2)
   having a disease from the specified list of bone diseases, involving the conductive hearing apparatus of the affected side, at the time of the clinical onset of conductive hearing loss;

   Note: conductive hearing apparatus and specified list of bone diseases are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

3. (3)
   having osteoporosis at the time of the clinical onset of conductive hearing loss;
4. (4)
   having an episode of otitic barotrauma involving the affected ear, within the seven days before the clinical onset of conductive hearing loss;
5. (5)
   being exposed to a peak sound pressure level at the tympanic membrane of at least 140 dB(C), within the seven days before the clinical onset of conductive hearing loss;

   Note: dB(C) is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

6. (6)
   being exposed to an explosive blast within the seven days before the clinical onset of conductive hearing loss;
7. (7)
   being struck by lightning within the seven days before the clinical onset of conductive hearing loss;
8. (8)
   having blunt trauma, penetrating trauma or surgery, involving the conductive hearing apparatus of the affected ear, within the seven days before the clinical onset of conductive hearing loss;

   Note: conductive hearing apparatus is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

9. (9)
   having acquired, permanent narrowing or obstruction of the external auditory canal of the affected ear, at the time of the clinical onset of conductive hearing loss; (a) benign fibro-osseous lesion; (b) benign or malignant neoplasm; (c) chronic otitis externa; (d) exostosis of the external auditory canal; (e) granuloma; and (f) necrotising otitis externa;

   Note: Examples of causes of narrowing or obstruction of the external auditory canal include, but are not limited to:.

   Note: exostosis of the external auditory canal is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

10. (10)
    having chronic otitis media, involving the middle ear of the affected side, at the time of the clinical onset of conductive hearing loss;

    Note: chronic otitis media is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

11. (11)
    having: (a) a benign or malignant neoplasm; or (b) other mass lesion; involving the middle ear of the affected side, at the time of the clinical onset of conductive hearing loss; (a) cholesteatoma; (b) granuloma; and (c) neuroendocrine adenoma;

    Note: Examples of neoplasms or mass lesions involving the middle ear include, but are not limited to:.

12. (12)
    having a disease from the specified list of autoimmune diseases, at the time of the clinical onset of conductive hearing loss;

    Note: specified list of autoimmune diseases is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

13. (13)
    undergoing a course of therapeutic radiation for cancer, where the conductive hearing apparatus of the affected side was in the field of radiation, before the clinical onset of conductive hearing loss;

    Note: conductive hearing apparatus is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

14. (14)
    having otosclerosis on the affected side at the time of the clinical worsening of conductive hearing loss;
15. (15)
    having a disease from the specified list of bone diseases, involving the conductive hearing apparatus of the affected side, at the time of the clinical worsening of conductive hearing loss;

    Note: conductive hearing apparatus and specified list of bone diseases are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

16. (16)
    having osteoporosis at the time of the clinical worsening of conductive hearing loss;
17. (17)
    having an episode of otitic barotrauma involving the affected ear, within the seven days before the clinical worsening of conductive hearing loss;
18. (18)
    being exposed to a peak sound pressure level at the tympanic membrane of at least 140 dB(C), within the seven days before the clinical worsening of conductive hearing loss;

    Note: dB(C) is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

19. (19)
    being exposed to an explosive blast within the seven days before the clinical worsening of conductive hearing loss;
20. (20)
    being struck by lightning within the seven days before the clinical worsening of conductive hearing loss;
21. (21)
    having blunt trauma, penetrating trauma or surgery, involving the conductive hearing apparatus of the affected ear, within the seven days before the clinical worsening of conductive hearing loss;

    Note: conductive hearing apparatus is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

22. (22)
    having acquired, permanent narrowing or obstruction of the external auditory canal of the affected ear, at the time of the clinical worsening of conductive hearing loss; (a) benign fibro-osseous lesion; (b) benign or malignant neoplasm; (c) chronic otitis externa; (d) exostosis of the external auditory canal; (e) granuloma; and (f) necrotising otitis externa;

    Note: Examples of causes of narrowing or obstruction of the external auditory canal include, but are not limited to:.

    Note: exostosis of the external auditory canal is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

23. (23)
    having chronic otitis media, involving the middle ear of the affected side, at the time of the clinical worsening of conductive hearing loss;

    Note: chronic otitis media is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

24. (24)
    having: (a) a benign or malignant neoplasm; or (b) other mass lesion; involving the middle ear of the affected side, at the time of the clinical worsening of conductive hearing loss; (a) cholesteatoma; (b) granuloma; and (c) neuroendocrine adenoma;

    Note: Examples of neoplasms or mass lesions involving the middle ear include, but are not limited to:.

25. (25)
    having a disease from the specified list of autoimmune diseases, at the time of the clinical worsening of conductive hearing loss;

    Note: specified list of autoimmune diseases is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

26. (26)
    undergoing a course of therapeutic radiation for cancer, where the conductive hearing apparatus of the affected side was in the field of radiation, before the clinical worsening of conductive hearing loss;

    Note: conductive hearing apparatus is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

27. (27)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for conductive hearing loss;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(14) to 9(27) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, the condition where it was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person’s relevant service.