195

195     An employee is placed in an impairment category based on the criteria in Table 7.5: Air passage defects.

196     Table 7.5: Air passage defects applies only to permanent partial obstruction of one or more of the following structures:

a)      oropharynx;

b)      laryngopharynx;

c)       larynx;

d)      trachea.

197     Table 7.5: Air passage defects does not apply to nasal obstruction. Nasal obstruction is assessed under Table 7.6: Nasal passage defects.

198     Prophylactic restriction of activity, such as sporting activity, does not attract the same WPI rating as dyspnoea on participation in the activity.

Table 7.5: Air passage defects

See note to Table 7.5 for further information.

• Criteria %WPI
• 0 10 30 40 50 70 90
• Ventilation required No No No No No No Yes
• Dyspnoea at rest No No No No Yes Yes (severe) NA
• Dyspnoea with dressing or grooming No No No Yes Yes (severe) NA NA
• Dyspnoea with walking 200m or climbing eight steps No No Yes NA NA NA NA
• Dyspnoea with hurrying, hill climbing or sporting activity No Yes NA NA NA NA NA

Note to Table 7.5

1. ‘NA’ means not applicable.

7.6        Nasal passage defects

199     Table 7.6: Nasal passage defects applies only to nasal obstruction.

Table 7.6: Nasal passage defects

| %WPI | Criterion | | 3 | Continuous nasal obstruction of sufficient severity to cause mouth breathing at rest. |

7.7        Chewing and swallowing

200     Table 7.7: Chewing and swallowing is used to assess impairment resulting from facial muscle damage or loss, dental and oral problems, and temporomandibular joint dysfunction.

201     WPI ratings derived from Table 7.7: Chewing and swallowing may be combined with WPI ratings derived from Table 8.4: Surgically created stomas (see Chapter 8 – The digestive system).

202     For the same condition, WPI ratings derived from Table 7.7: Chewing and swallowing may not be combined with WPI ratings from Table 12.5.6: The glossopharyngeal, vagus, spinal accessory and hypoglossal nerves (IX, X, XI and XII) (see Chapter 12 – The neurological system).

Table 7.7: Chewing and swallowing

| 0 | No interference. Food of any desired type may be eaten without difficulty. | | 2 | Very tough or hard food has to be avoided but diet is otherwise as desired. | | 5 | Diet is limited to soft foods. | | 10 | Diet is limited to pureed foods. | | 20 | Diet is limited to liquid foods. | | 40 | No oral ingestion of food or fluid is possible. Food can only be ingested by means of a nasogastric, gastrostomy, oesophagostomy or other tube. |

CHAPTER 8 – THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

8.0        Introduction

203     In conducting an assessment, the assessor must have regard to the Principles of Assessment and the definitions contained in the Glossary.

204     For the purposes of Chapter 8 – The digestive system, activities of daily living are those in Figure 8-A.

Figure 8-A: Activities of daily living

| Physical activity | Standing, sitting, reclining, walking, stooping, squatting, kneeling, reaching, bending, twisting, leaning, carrying, lifting, pulling, pushing, climbing, exercising. |

205     Table 8.1: Upper digestive tract – oesophagus, stomach, duodenum, small intestine and pancreas, Table 8.2: Lower gastrointestinal tract – colon and rectum and Table 8.3: Lower gastrointestinal tract – anus refer to primary and secondary criteria. All criteria from both categories (except where otherwise stipulated) must be met before a WPI rating can be assigned.

206     Where the condition being assessed interferes with chewing and/or swallowing, assessment is made under whichever of the following tables describes the impairment more specifically:

a)      Table 7.7: Chewing and swallowing (see Chapter 7 – Ear, nose and throat disorders);

b)      Table 12.5.6: The glossopharyngeal, vagus, spinal accessory and hypoglossal nerves (IX, X, XI and XII) (see Chapter 12 – The neurological system).

207     For the same condition, WPI ratings derived from Table 12.5.6: The glossopharyngeal, vagus, spinal accessory and hypoglossal nerves (IX, X, XI and XII) may not be combined with WPI ratings derived from Table 7.7: Chewing and swallowing.

208     Other complications of bleeding disorders assessed under Table 13.3: Haemorrhagic disorders and platelet disorders (see Chapter 13 – The haematopoietic system) may also be assessed under tables in Chapter 8 – The digestive system, according to the site of the blood loss. The WPI rating so obtained may be combined with the WPI rating obtained from Table 13.3.

209     Where applicable, Body Mass Index (BMI) values are used as the objective assessment for weight. See Figure 8-B: Body Mass Index criteria for calculation of BMI values.

8.0.1    Calculation of Body Mass Index (BMI)