As part of our commitment to provide our patients all-around ambulatory care, the Asian Hospital and Medical Center’s Hearing and Dizziness Unit is fully equipped to perform a series of diagnostic procedures for hearing and balance disorders. At the heart of our department is a team of highly trained otorhinolaryngologists, audiologists, audiometric technicians and 47 expert doctors in related sub-specialties who deliver quality service through a multidisciplinary yet personalized approach.
Our experts are skilled and experienced in the management of hearing and balance disorders in both adults and children. They are also qualified to perform a wide range of diagnostic services, which include:
- Pure Tone Audiometry – This test is used to measure the hearing threshold of the patient, and in so doing determines the type, degree and configuration of hearing loss. It is typically done with speech audiometry, which also focuses on word recognition.
- Tympanometry – This test is used to check for infections and tears or perforations in the eardrum, as well as the presence of excessive pressure or fluid in the middle ear, all of which are common causes of hearing loss.
- Acoustic Reflex – This test is used to detect nerve problems with the stapedius muscle, an ear muscle that involuntarily contracts in response to loud sounds. It is often performed with tympanometry.
- Eustachian Tube Function Test – This test is used to check whether the Eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear to the nasopharynx, is functioning properly.
- Electrocochleography (EcochG) – This test is used to monitor electrical activity in the inner ear, specifically the cochlea. It is also done to diagnose Meniere’s disease and its symptoms, which include aural pressure (fullness), dizziness, tinnitus (ringing) and hearing loss.
- Videonystagmography (VNG) – This test is used to measure nystagmus, an involuntary and rapid movement of the eyes that can cause dizziness and imbalance.
- Video Head Impulse Test (VHIT) – This test is used to observe the vestibulo-ocular reflex that stabilizes the gaze for better vision. It is recommended for patients experiencing symptoms such as vertigo, lightheadedness and blurry vision.
- Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential (VEMP) – This test is used to monitor the vestibular muscle activity of the otolith organs in response to repetitive sounds.
- Auditory Steady-State Response (ASSR) – This test is used to monitor hearing sensitivity of both adult and child patients, as well as evaluate the performance of hearing amplification devices such as hearing aids and cochlear implants.
The Hearing and Dizziness Unit also offers diagnostic procedures that are specifically tailored to children, as follows:
- Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emission (DPOAE) – This test is done to check for hearing problems in newborns and infants. It can be done 24 hours after birth, or before the newborn is discharged from the hospital, as required by Republic Act 9709 (Universal Newborn Hearing Screening and Intervention Act).
- Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) – This test is used to detect hearing loss in children by monitor electrical impulses that travel from the inner ear to the brain in response to sound stimuli. It is normally done while the child is asleep.
- Pediatric Audiometry – This refers to hearing tests that are specifically designed for children at certain ages, namely: Behavioral Observation Audiometry (BOA) for children 0 to 6 months old; Visual Reinforcement Audiometry (VRA) for children 5 to 36 months old; and Conditioned Play Audiometry (CPA) for children 30 months to 5 years old.
The Hearing & Dizziness Unit is located at the 2nd floor of Tower 2, Emmanuel Center. It operates Mondays through Saturdays from 9:00am to 5:00pm, and closed on Sundays and holidays.
Call us today at +(632) 8-771-9000 or 0928 559 6055 for inquiries and appointments.