The Hearing Clinic at the Hong Kong Society for the Deaf Dr Buddy Y K Wong Vice president Hong Kong Society for the Deaf

The HK Society for the Deaf The largest NGO serving hard of hearing individuals in Hong Kong The largest NGO serving hard of hearing individuals in Hong Kong Established in 1960’s Established in 1960’s For years, the society focused on non- medical issues For years, the society focused on non- medical issues

The HK Society for the Deaf Nursery for kids Nursery for kids Referral to deaf schools Referral to deaf schools Sign language course Sign language course Social workers helping out with disability allowance & others Social workers helping out with disability allowance & others Social events Social events Sport events etc etc….. Sport events etc etc…..

The HK Society for the Deaf 1998 strategic planning 1998 strategic planning Difficulty for deaf individuals in seeking medical advice, even from ENT doctors Difficulty for deaf individuals in seeking medical advice, even from ENT doctors

The HK Society for the Deaf Clinic run by individuals who understand deafness in a deaf friendly environment Clinic run by individuals who understand deafness in a deaf friendly environment

The HK Society for the Deaf Staff ENT surgeon with special interest in otology ENT surgeon with special interest in otology Specialist Social worker Specialist Social worker Receptionist – herself a cochlear implantee Receptionist – herself a cochlear implantee Sign language interpretor Sign language interpretor

The HK Society for the Deaf Staff Volunteers – family members with HL Volunteers – family members with HL Audiologist Audiologist

The Hearing Clinic at HKSD Simple equipment Simple equipment The ear, only the ear, and nothing but the ear. The ear, only the ear, and nothing but the ear.

The Hearing Clinic at HKSD Additional reasons 1. Long wait before appointment time for public ENT consultation 2. Private ENT consultation expensive

The Hearing Clinic at HKSD Concentrate and develop expertise for dealing with hearing problems Concentrate and develop expertise for dealing with hearing problems Encourage ENT surgeons to be interested in hearing problems Encourage ENT surgeons to be interested in hearing problems

Patients

The Hearing Clinic at HKSD 7 years 1998 – years 1998 – 2005 Total of 1655 patients Total of 1655 patients 3260 attendances up to end of August attendances up to end of August 05

The Hearing Clinic at HKSD CSOM CSOM Otosclerosis Otosclerosis SOM SOM Microtia Microtia

The Hearing Clinic at HKSD Non Surgical Non Surgical Medical clearance before hearing aid fitting Medical clearance before hearing aid fitting Cleaning of ears before ear mould impression Cleaning of ears before ear mould impression Those who wish to have a hearing check up Those who wish to have a hearing check up Those that has a legal requirement to see an ENT surgeon Those that has a legal requirement to see an ENT surgeon Patients who have been treated for NPC Patients who have been treated for NPC

The Hearing Clinic at HKSD Surgical Patients Surgical Patients 147 cases of ear surgical procedures were done 147 cases of ear surgical procedures were done 72 Tympanplasties 72 Tympanplasties 62 Stapedectomies 62 Stapedectomies 6 Mastoidectomies 6 Mastoidectomies 4 Cochlear Implants 4 Cochlear Implants 3 BAHA 3 BAHA Miscellaneous Miscellaneous

Summary Filled a hiatus in the current available service 1. Deaf friendly environment 2. Faster consultation 3. In-expensive

Summary Reasonably successful in terms of attendance Reasonably successful in terms of attendance Failed to be self financing Failed to be self financing

Summary Mutual benefit 1. Patients happy 2. Staff learn more about deafness. Develop their expertise. 3. Encourage doctors to be more interested in Deafness in a comprehensive manner Participate in training for future ENT surgeons and audiologists Participate in training for future ENT surgeons and audiologists

The Hearing Clinic at HKSD Acknowledgements Acknowledgements Dr Hui Yau,has been the other regular ENT surgeon in the clinic Dr Hui Yau,has been the other regular ENT surgeon in the clinic The following doctors have volunteered in our clinic: The following doctors have volunteered in our clinic: Frank Wong Frank Wong L C Wong L C Wong L Chow L Chow K Liu K Liu Bonnie Tang has volunteered as the clinic nurse since the start of the clinic Bonnie Tang has volunteered as the clinic nurse since the start of the clinic