Melissa Tan | Singapore General Hospital

SGH Listen and Talk Programme is 20 this year! Since we started in 2001, our team of ENT doctors, Audiologists and Auditory-Verbal Therapists in the Centre for Hearing and Ear Implants have been working closely to provide care for patients with hearing loss. To celebrate our 20th Anniversary and in conjunction with Audiologist/AVT Day on 10th October, we interview some of our Allied Health Professionals.

Read the interviews to get to know our AHPs better and learn more about the work that they do at our Centre.

Melissa Tan, Audiologist

Describe your work as an audiologist.
Engaging those who have difficulty in hearing, and their family members. Understanding their concerns and how we can assist them with hearing devices.
Why did you decide to be an audiologist?
I wanted to specialise in Allied Health and there was a need for more local Audiologists in Singapore. I found out more on the profession and decided to embark on this journey.
What do you like most about your job?
When aural rehabilitation goes well, it is very encouraging to the patient and to the Audiologist. And the patient is potentially able to enjoy a better quality of life.
What was your most interesting encounter at work?
Can’t pinpoint any particular encounter. Some experiences include when some patients get surprised when they hear everyday sounds again (e.g. tap water running, footsteps) with the use of hearing devices. With hearing loss, some patients forget these sounds exist, as they don’t hear them anymore.
What is something that people don’t know about audiologists?
We test hearing in patients as young as newborns.
What is your purpose at work?
Hoping to help patients connect better with their families and friends when they are able to hear better.
What are you passionate about?
Helping patients who are motivated. When patients are accountable and compliant, we can work together to achieve more optimal outcomes for them.