You would usually see a Physiologist after being referred by your GP or a specialised hospital Consultant for diagnostic tests. These are ordered in response to your reported symptoms and help a medical professional diagnose and offer treatment accordingly.
You may also see a physiologist to monitor an already diagnosed condition, to assess any changes and your response to any treatments given. The RCCP registers Physiologists from a range of disciplines, see below for examples of the more common tests and roles performed for each of the different types.
Audiologists
- Hearing Assessments, Tinnitus Management, Investigating and treating balance conditions
Cardiologists
- ECG, Echocardiograms, 24 hour blood pressure monitoring, catheter lab assistance with angiogram and angioplasty, pacemaker and defibrillator placement.
Clinical Exercise Physiologists
- Prevention, treatment and management of health conditions through promoting long-term wellness through lifestyle and behaviour changes related to diet, exercise and other beneficial habits.
Educational Audiologists
- Work with children to make sure they receive maximum classroom support including developing individualised education porgrammes
Gastrointestinal Physiologists
- Upper GI manometry (pressure measurements) and ambulatory 24hr pH
investigations, Breath tests for helicobacter pylori and gut bacteria, Ano rectal manometry, ultrasound for cancer staging and bowel re-training therapy.
Hearing Therapists
- Help with acquired hearing loss, including understanding and navigating associated issues like communication and functioning in relationships
Neurophysiologists
- Electroencephalography (EEG), Evoked Potentials (EPs), Peripheral Nerve Conduction Studies and Electromyography (NCS and EMG)
Respiratory Physiologists
- Lung Function tests including spirometry, lung volumes and respiratory gas exchange. Blood gas analysis and oxygen prescription. Allergy testing. Exercise testing. Sleep studies for sleep disordered breathing. Muscle function tests
Sleep Physiologists
- Sleep studies using a variety of tests including polysomnography
