Part 4Injuries affecting the senses

Part 4—Injuries affecting the senses Division 1—General comment

Injuries mentioned in this Part are commonly symptoms of brain and nervous system injury

Division 2—Injuries affecting the eyes Total sight and hearing impairment

The injury ranks with the most devastating injuries.

•	Age and life expectancy

Total sight impairment

•	Age and life expectancy

Complete sight impairment in 1 eye with reduced vision in the other eye

An ISV at or near the top of the range will be appropriate if there is serious risk of further significant deterioration in the remaining eye. Complete sight impairment in 1 eye or total loss of 1 eye

•	The extent to which the injured person's activities are adversely affected by the impairment or loss
•	Associated scarring or cosmetic damage

An ISV at or near the top of the range will be appropriate if there is a minor risk of sympathetic ophthalmia.

Serious eye injury

•	A serious but incomplete loss of vision in 1 eye without significant risk of loss or reduction of vision in the other eye
•	An injury causing double vision that is not minor and intermittent

Moderate eye injury

Minor but permanent impairment of vision in one eye, including if there is double vision that is minor and intermittent Minor eye injury

A minor injury, for example, from being struck in the eye, exposed to smoke or other fumes or being splashed by liquids— (a) causing initial pain and temporary interference with vision; and (b) from which the injured person will fully recover within a relatively short time Division 3—Injuries affecting the ears Extreme ear injury

The injury involves a binaural hearing loss of at least 80%.

•	Associated problems, for example, severe tinnitus, moderate vertigo, a moderate vestibular disturbance or headaches
•	Availability of hearing aids or other devices that may reduce the hearing loss

An ISV at or near the top of the range will be appropriate if the injury happened at an early age so as to prevent or to seriously affect the development of normal speech

Serious ear injury

The injury involves— (a) a binaural hearing loss of at least 50% but less than 80%; or (b) severe permanent vestibular disturbance.

•	An ISV in the lower half of the range will be appropriate if there is no speech impairment or tinnitus
•	An ISV in the upper half of the range will be appropriate if there is speech impairment and tinnitus.