How to Refer a Patient
Fax is the fastest way to refer. We accept faxed referrals 24/7 and process them on the same business day. Phone, secure email, and online patient self-scheduling are available as alternatives.
Fax referrals to
(512) 631-4188
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Download the form
Use our fillable PDF referral form. Complete it on screen, or print it for your team to fill out by hand.
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Attach pertinent records
Include the patient's insurance card and any prior audiograms, ENT notes, imaging, medication lists, or clinic notes that support the referral question.
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Send to (512) 631-4188
Fax 24/7. Our front office processes referrals the same business day, verifies benefits, and reaches out to the patient to schedule.
What to Include with the Referral
- Completed referral form (or equivalent letter on letterhead)
- Patient name, date of birth, and contact information
- Reason for referral and clinical question (e.g., "rule out APD," "tinnitus management," "hearing aid evaluation")
- Pertinent medical history, current medications, and ototoxic exposures if relevant
- Any prior audiograms, ENT notes, or imaging reports
- Insurance card or plan information for benefits verification
- Preferred method for return correspondence (fax, secure email)
Other Ways to Refer
If fax is not an option, the channels below are also available.
Phone
Secure Email
Online Scheduling
1008 Ranch Rd 620 S
Suite 203, Lakeway, TX 78734
Why Refer to Golden Ears Audiology
Golden Ears Audiology is led by Dr. Sonia Penaroza, Au.D., a Northwestern-trained Doctor of Audiology with a subspecialty interest in diagnostic testing, tinnitus management, and auditory processing disorder. We focus on getting an accurate clinical picture first, then matching the right treatment, whether that is amplification, therapy, or a referral back to medicine when appropriate.
At a Glance for Referring Providers
Doctor of Audiology
Northwestern-trained Au.D. with residency at Arizona Balance & Hearing in tinnitus, balance, and complex diagnostics.
Closed-Loop Reporting
We send a written report of findings, diagnoses, and recommendations back to your office after every evaluation.
Subspecialty Services
Auditory processing disorder (APD), tinnitus management, speech-in-noise testing, and pediatric audiology.
Multilingual Care
Dr. Penaroza is fluent in English, Spanish, Polish, Ukrainian, and French.
Concierge Visits
In-home service for homebound, post-acute, and assisted-living patients in the Austin area.
In-Network Insurance
Medicare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, TriWest, Baylor Scott & White, and most major plans, including coverage for APD when medically appropriate.
Services We Provide for Your Patients
We are a diagnostic-first practice. Every recommendation begins with an accurate clinical picture, not a hearing aid sale. Below are the services most commonly used by referring physicians.
Comprehensive Audiometric Evaluation
Pure-tone air and bone, speech reception and recognition, tympanometry, and acoustic reflex testing. Reports include the audiogram and clinical impression.
Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) Evaluation
Doctor-led APD test battery for children and adults, including assessment of decoding, tolerance fading memory (TFM), organization, and integration deficits.
Tinnitus Evaluation & Management
Pitch and loudness matching, minimum masking levels, residual inhibition, and a treatment plan that may include tinnitus retraining therapy or Oto digital CBT.
Speech-in-Noise Testing
Useful for patients who report difficulty in restaurants and meetings despite "passing" a basic hearing test, and often the missing piece in cognitive or APD workups.
Pediatric Audiology
Evaluations for school-age children with listening, reading, attention, or language concerns, including coordination with educators and SLPs.
Hearing Aid Fitting & Verification
Manufacturer-neutral selection from six leading brands, real-ear measurement (REM) verification, and ongoing follow-up programmed for the patient's lifestyle.
Hearing & Cognitive Health
Hearing care framed in the context of cognitive health and dementia risk, with attention to the documented link between untreated hearing loss and cognitive decline.
Concierge In-Home Service
For homebound patients, post-acute care, assisted living, and skilled nursing facilities in the greater Austin area.
When to Refer a Patient
Referrals are appropriate any time a patient's hearing, listening, tinnitus, or auditory processing concern is interfering with daily life, school, or work. Common scenarios include:
- Suspected or confirmed hearing loss in an adult or child
- Persistent or bothersome tinnitus, with or without hearing loss
- Patient reports difficulty understanding speech in noise despite a normal basic hearing test
- Suspected auditory processing disorder (APD) in a school-age child or adult
- Hearing concerns alongside cognitive change, dementia risk, or memory complaints
- Failed school hearing screening or parent / teacher concern
- Asymmetric, fluctuating, or sudden sensorineural hearing loss after ENT clearance
- Hearing aid candidacy evaluation, second opinion, or troubleshooting of a current device
- Cerumen-cleared patient who needs comprehensive diagnostic testing
- Custom hearing protection for musicians, hunters, swimmers, or industrial workers
- Homebound or assisted-living patient who cannot easily come to a clinic
- Patient who prefers care in Spanish, Polish, Ukrainian, or French
Acute or unstable cases (sudden hearing loss, severe vertigo with neurologic signs, suspected cholesteatoma, draining ear, or acoustic trauma) should be triaged through ENT or the appropriate medical pathway first. We are happy to provide diagnostic testing as part of a coordinated workup.
What Your Patient Will Experience
Patients are seen one-on-one by Dr. Penaroza, not handed off between staff. The first visit is unhurried and focused on getting an accurate diagnostic picture before any treatment plan is discussed.
Visits typically include a thorough case history, otoscopy, comprehensive testing appropriate to the referral question, and a detailed review of findings with the patient (and family or caregiver, when helpful). When indicated, we send the patient back to your office or to ENT before moving forward with audiologic treatment.
- Same-week or next-week appointments are usually available
- Benefits verified prior to the visit; out-of-pocket expectations communicated in advance
- Multilingual care available in English, Spanish, Polish, Ukrainian, and French
- Pediatric, adult, and geriatric patients all welcome
- Concierge in-home option for homebound or assisted-living patients
- HSA, FSA, and CareCredit accepted for non-covered services
Reports Back to the Referring Provider
With patient consent, we routinely send a written report back to the referring provider after each evaluation. Reports can be delivered by fax to your office or via secure email and typically include:
- Audiogram with type, degree, and configuration of any hearing loss
- Tympanometry and acoustic reflex findings
- Speech reception threshold and word recognition scores
- Speech-in-noise performance when tested
- Tinnitus measurements and management recommendations when relevant
- APD test battery results and subtype classification when relevant
- Clinical impression and recommendations
- Any recommended follow-up with ENT, neurology, or other specialists
If you would like to be added to our preferred-provider routing for faster turnaround, fax a brief note on letterhead to (512) 631-4188 or email [email protected].
Insurance & Coverage
We are in-network with Medicare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, TriWest Healthcare Alliance, Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, and many additional commercial plans. We verify benefits before each visit and communicate any patient out-of-pocket expectations in advance.
- Medicare covers diagnostic hearing evaluations when ordered by a physician. Please include the order with the referral when possible.
- Auditory processing (APD) evaluation and treatment are covered by most major plans when medically appropriate.
- Hearing aid benefits vary by plan; we coordinate prior authorization and benefits letters as needed.
- HSA, FSA, and CareCredit are accepted for non-covered services and devices.
See our insurance information page for additional detail.
FAQ for Physicians
Most physician offices refer by fax. Download our fillable PDF referral form, complete it, and fax it with the patient's pertinent records and insurance card to (512) 631-4188. We also accept referrals by phone at (512) 222-6880, by secure email at [email protected], or via patient self-scheduling online.
Yes. With patient consent, we send a written report of findings, diagnoses, and recommendations back to the referring provider after every evaluation. Reports can be delivered by fax or secure email and typically include the audiogram, tympanometry, speech testing, any specialty test results (APD, tinnitus), and our clinical impression and recommendations.
Common reasons include suspected hearing loss, persistent or bothersome tinnitus, suspected auditory processing disorder (APD) in children or adults, difficulty understanding speech in noise despite a normal basic hearing test, hearing concerns alongside cognitive change, asymmetric or sudden hearing loss after ENT clearance, hearing aid candidacy or troubleshooting, and pediatric hearing or listening concerns.
A referral is not required for most audiology services, but Medicare requires a physician order for diagnostic hearing evaluations to be covered. Some commercial plans also require a referral for hearing aid benefits. We are happy to coordinate with your office on documentation and prior authorization.
We are in-network with Medicare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, TriWest Healthcare Alliance, Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, and many additional commercial plans. APD evaluation and treatment are covered by most major plans when medically appropriate. See our insurance information page for details, or call us to verify a specific plan.
Yes. Our concierge in-home service is available for patients with limited mobility or those who prefer to be seen at home, in assisted living, or in a skilled nursing facility. Concierge availability is limited and scheduled by phone.
Same-week or next-week appointments are usually available. For urgent diagnostic questions (for example, suspected sudden sensorineural hearing loss after ENT evaluation), please call the office and ask to speak with the audiologist.
Yes. Dr. Penaroza routinely sees school-age children for hearing evaluations, auditory processing testing, and pediatric audiology services, including coordination with educators and speech-language pathologists when helpful.
