An audiologist is a healthcare professional trained to diagnose and manage hearing loss, tinnitus and balance disorders. Audiology professionals test hearing, fit and programme hearing devices, and support communication and listening skills.
At Barrie Tan ENT Head & Neck Surgery, our audiologist in Singapore works closely with Dr Barrie Tan to review hearing-related concerns in adults and children. Your audiology care may include hearing tests, hearing aid fitting, cochlear implant programming or hearing rehabilitation, depending on your hearing health and communication needs.
Audiologists specialise in hearing and balance assessments, explain results, and help patients use suitable hearing devices effectively. An audiologist can also explain how hearing challenges affect conversations, work, school and daily life.
An audiologist is a hearing specialist with a different role from an ENT doctor. The audiologist leads audiology assessment, device fitting and audiological rehabilitation. The ENT doctor is a medical doctor who diagnoses and treats ear disease, prescribes medicines and performs surgery when needed. Dr Tan and the audiologist use their findings together to support your hearing health.
In clinical practice, audiology assessments help diagnose hearing disorders by measuring the sounds you can detect and how well you understand speech. The recommended tests depend on your symptoms, age, and ability to respond. They may include:
If listening difficulties remain unexplained, further diagnostic assessments may be needed to check for central auditory processing disorder.
Children can have hearing assessments at an audiology clinic before they are old enough to describe a problem. Depending on age and development, an audiologist may use visual reinforcement, play-based testing, OAE or ABR. A child who does not respond consistently to sounds, has delayed speech or has not passed a hearing screening needs follow-up assessment. Testing does not automatically mean that a child needs a hearing aid or implant. Early intervention can support communication when a hearing impairment is identified.
Patients with hearing-related concerns can arrange a hearing assessment with an audiologist if speech sounds muffled, they often ask people to repeat themselves, or conversations are difficult in meetings or hawker centres. Persistent tinnitus, reduced benefit from hearing aids or concerns about a child’s hearing also warrant review. Limiting exposure to loud noise can help prevent hearing loss.
Sudden hearing loss needs urgent medical assessment, even if your ear simply feels blocked. Do not wait for a routine hearing aid appointment. Discuss ear pain, discharge, one-sided symptoms, or dizziness with an ENT specialist.
Your audiology appointment starts with a review of your symptoms, medical history, general health and listening needs, followed by appropriate tests and an explanation of the findings. Tell the audiologist which languages you use, including sign language, and where communication is most difficult.
Bring previous hearing results, your hearing aids or implant processor, and a list of medicines. A family member or loved one may help describe changes they have noticed. Ask about the expected appointment length, test fees and whether an ENT consultation is also needed. By the end, you should understand your results, available options, and your follow-up plan.
For many patients, including adults and children, the next step is a hearing aid trial. A hearing aid audiologist selects and programmes suitable hearing devices based on your hearing results, listening needs, comfort, and ability to handle them. Hearing aids amplify sound, but their benefit also depends on how well you process speech. Ask how they will check the fit, including whether they will use real-ear measurements to measure amplified sound in your ear canal.
Follow-up audiology consultations help patients check comfort, hearing aid use and communication in daily life. The audiologist can adjust settings, address feedback or fit problems, and explain cleaning and maintenance. Aural rehabilitation includes listening practice and communication strategies, such as reducing background noise and asking a speaker to rephrase. Improvement and adjustment time vary. Your goals and overall quality of life guide follow-up audiology care.
If appropriately fitted hearing aids provide limited speech clarity, the audiologist can assess aided speech recognition and discuss a cochlear implant evaluation with the ENT surgeon. Having some remaining hearing does not automatically rule out an implant. The decision also considers the condition of the ear, medical suitability and your communication goals.
For bone conduction devices, the audiologist assesses hearing, checks processor fit, and adjusts settings. Where appropriate, a non-surgical trial can help assess potential benefit before considering an implant.
Hearing loss treatment depends on the cause, type and degree of hearing loss, as well as its effect on communication. Our ENT team and audiologist combine your medical history, ear examination and hearing test results to support an accurate diagnosis and recommend appropriate care.
Some outer- or middle-ear problems need medical or surgical treatment. Other hearing impairments are managed with hearing aids, hearing implants or communication support. Not everyone needs surgery or a device. Repeat hearing tests can help monitor changes and guide treatment adjustments.
Cochlear implants can improve access to sound and speech for selected patients, including adults and children, who receive limited benefit from hearing aids. They do not restore normal hearing. Dr Tan assesses medical and surgical suitability, while the audiologist evaluates hearing and helps establish realistic expectations and listening goals.
Before implantation, the audiologist measures hearing on each side and checks speech recognition with appropriately fitted hearing aids. The audiologist also assesses useful low-frequency hearing when hybrid cochlear implants or electric acoustic stimulation may be considered.
After surgery and sufficient healing, the audiologist activates the external sound processor and programmes the implant. This programming, called mapping, adjusts electrical stimulation to improve sound access and listening comfort.
Follow-up audiology visits combine mapping, hearing and speech testing, and discussion of daily listening difficulties. Auditory rehabilitation helps you learn to interpret the new signals, with practice tailored to daily-life goals such as family conversations, MRT announcements, or office calls. Progress varies, and ongoing support may involve speech and language therapists and other healthcare professionals, as well as the implant team.
Explore Cochlear Implants
Bone conduction implants send sound vibrations through the skull to the inner ear. They may help selected patients with conductive or mixed hearing loss, or single-sided deafness. The audiologist measures potential benefit, fits the external processor and checks performance at follow-up visits. These devices work differently from cochlear implants, so the choice depends on your hearing assessment.
Explore Bone Conduction Implants
Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound does not pass effectively through the outer or middle ear. After procedures such as ossiculoplasty or tympanoplasty, audiologists repeat hearing tests once healing is complete to evaluate the results. Some patients need no device; others may benefit from a hearing aid or bone conduction device.
Explore Conductive Hearing Loss
Tinnitus assessment considers your hearing, the sound you notice and its effect on sleep, concentration and wellbeing. Pitch or loudness matching may help describe tinnitus but does not establish its cause. The ENT specialist checks for medical causes, while the audiologist helps develop a tinnitus management plan.
Depending on your needs, care may include hearing aids for associated hearing loss, sound enrichment, counselling or referral for psychological support. The aim is to reduce the impact of tinnitus; treatment does not guarantee that it will disappear.
Dr Barrie Tan was formerly the Head of the Department of Otolaryngology (ENT) at Singapore General Hospital and has devoted his career to improving his patients’ ENT health and quality of life. At Gleneagles Hospital, our ENT and audiology team can review your hearing health concerns and explain appropriate next steps.
Contact the clinic to arrange an appointment. A referral is not usually needed for a private consultation, but your insurer may require one. Confirm consultation and testing charges, hearing device costs and follow-up fees before proceeding.
