The referral process

Connecting you to the care you need.

At Ear Science Institute Australia, we make your hearing journey simple and supportive.

It starts with a comprehensive assessment at a Lions Hearing Clinic, where our expert audiologists carefully evaluate your needs. If a cochlear implant is recommended, we ensure a seamless referral to leading ENT surgeons in NSW, providing you with the highest level of care.

From your first appointment to implant surgery, we’re here to support you every step of the way—ensuring you feel informed, confident, and supported in your journey to better hearing.

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Why Choose us?

Over 20 years expertise

Ear Science Institute Australia was established in 2001 as an independent not-for-profit research Institute, dedicated to improving the lives of people with ear and hearing disorders

Research driven

We bring together influential academics and clinicians from across the world, all with a shared passion to understand hearing and a shared goal to cure hearing loss

Personalised care

Lions Hearing Clinic is dedicated to helping you improve your hearing and get you back to enjoying the sounds in your life.

Our Partners

Professor Nigel Biggs

Expertise in Ear, Hearing and Skull surgeries

At Ear Science Institute Australia, we are proud to collaborate with Associate Professor Biggs to ensure our clients receive the specialised care they need.

Based in Sydney, A/Prof Biggs combines over 20 years of clinical experience with a deep commitment to compassionate, patient-centred care. As a dual fellowship-trained ENT surgeon, he specialises in ear, hearing, implant, and skull base tumour surgery, providing unparalleled expertise to patients across New South Wales.

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Dr Phillip Chang

Specialty of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery

Dr Phillip Chang specialises in ear surgery in children and adults with particular training and interest in tympanomastoid surgery, cochlear implants and acoustic neuroma surgery.

Following his ENT training in Sydney, Dr Chang completed a series of fellowships with Ugo Fisch in Zurich, David Moffatt in Cambridge and The House Ear Clinic in Los Angeles.

Currently Dr Chang operates at St Vincent’s Private Hospital, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Prince of Wales Private Hospital, Norwest Hospital and St Luke’s. In addition Dr Chang serves as the clinical director for a paediatric cochlear implant programme (The Shepherd Centre) and an adult programme (Hearing Implants Australia).

Learn More

Our Partners

Professor Nigel Biggs

Expertise in Ear, Hearing and Skull surgeries

At Ear Science Institute Australia, we are proud to collaborate with Associate Professor Biggs to ensure our clients receive the specialised care they need.

Based in Sydney, A/Prof Biggs combines over 20 years of clinical experience with a deep commitment to compassionate, patient-centred care. As a dual fellowship-trained ENT surgeon, he specialises in ear, hearing, implant, and skull base tumour surgery, providing unparalleled expertise to patients across New South Wales.

Learn More

Dr Phillip Chang

Specialty of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery

Dr Phillip Chang specialises in ear surgery in children and adults with particular training and interest in tympanomastoid surgery, cochlear implants and acoustic neuroma surgery.

Following his ENT training in Sydney, Dr Chang completed a series of fellowships with Ugo Fisch in Zurich, David Moffatt in Cambridge and The House Ear Clinic in Los Angeles.

Currently Dr Chang operates at St Vincent’s Private Hospital, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Prince of Wales Private Hospital, Norwest Hospital and St Luke’s. In addition Dr Chang serves as the clinical director for a paediatric cochlear implant programme (The Shepherd Centre) and an adult programme (Hearing Implants Australia).

Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions

Implant Referrals NSW

Your GP may refer you to an ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat specialist) if they believe it’s needed.

For hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, or ear infections, it’s often best to see an audiologist first. A hearing assessment helps determine whether an ENT referral is necessary and provides key information that ENTs usually require.

At Lions Hearing Clinic, our audiologists work closely with GPs and ENTs, ensuring you get the right referral and the best pathway for your hearing health.

Yes! If you have a preferred ENT, let us know, and we’ll include this in our report to your GP, who can send the referral.

We also work with leading ENTs like Prof. Biggs and Dr. Chang, who specialise in hearing implants in NSW. Some ENTs may be recommended based on their expertise, location, or wait times, ensuring you get the best care.

Call us or fill out our hearing assessment form. One of our friendly team members will reach out to book in an appointment and talk you through the next steps.

An ENT specialist is a doctor who treats conditions related to the ears, nose, and throat. You may need to see an ENT if you have:

Chronic ear infections
A hole (perforation) in the eardrum
hearing loss that may benefit from a hearing implant
Hearing problems that need extra investigation

If you suspect you need a hearing implant, it is important that you talk to an audiologist that is well trained in identifying hearing implants candidates.

At Lions Hearing Clinic, our audiologists specialise in implant candidacy assessments and work closely with our partner ENTs to refer you to the care you need.

You may be a candidate if you:

Struggle to hear even with hearing aids
Have trouble following conversations
Feel like your hearing is getting worse
Relying at looking at people to understand what they’re saying

There are different types of hearing implants depending on your needs:
Cochlear Implants – For people with severe hearing loss who don’t benefit from hearing aids.
Bone Conduction Implants – For those with conductive or mixed hearing loss.
Middle Ear Implants – A middle ear implant could be the perfect solution if you have mild-moderate, mixed or conductive hearing loss.

Learn more here:

Ear Science Institute Australia is a world leader in providing evidence in the area of ear disease and hearing. Our research team uses information from our 45,000 appointments with 20,000 clients each year, internationally renowned population studies, and collaborators, we publish regularly in international journals. This evidence guides and informs the way we deliver services at Lions Ear Clinic.

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Our ENT Referral Partners in NSW

The referral process

Connecting you to the care you need.

Our Partners

Professor Nigel Biggs

Expertise in Ear, Hearing and Skull surgeries

Dr Phillip Chang

Specialty of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery

Our Partners

Professor Nigel Biggs

Expertise in Ear, Hearing and Skull surgeries

Dr Phillip Chang

Specialty of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery

Frequently Asked Questions

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