Mulago National Referral Hospital has launched free specialised hearing assessment services following the acquisition of new audiology equipment worth Shs217 million, in a move aimed at improving the diagnosis and treatment of hearing problems among children and adults.

The services, launched at the hospital's Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Clinic, will be delivered using a new audiology booth fitted with specialised equipment to assess hearing function and identify problems affecting different parts of the ear.

Speaking during the launch, Mulago Executive Director Dr Byanyima Rosemary said the equipment had been procured at a cost of Shs217 million and would strengthen the hospital's capacity to provide specialised ear care.

The audiology booth is soundproof, allowing specialists to conduct hearing assessments in an environment free from external noise interference, thereby improving the reliability of test results used to guide diagnosis and treatment.

Dr Fred Bisso, a Senior ENT Consultant, said the audiometer would support routine medical check-ups while easing the work of ENT specialists through the provision of reliable results in line with international standards.

The new facility will also strengthen the hospital's ability to detect hearing problems in newborn babies, allowing specialists to identify potential challenges early and guide parents on appropriate treatment and care.

According to information published by Mulago Hospital, the audiology service offers different specialised assessments, including audiometry to examine hearing function, tympanometry to assess middle-ear function and otoacoustic emissions (OAE) tests to examine inner-ear responses.

The hospital's ENT Clinic attends to approximately 100 patients daily, providing hearing assessments and treatment for ear-related conditions affecting both children and adults.

The new audiology facility has the capacity to assess approximately 20 to 25 patients daily, further strengthening access to specialised hearing care at the national referral hospital.

The services are available at the ENT General Clinic, Block G, Level 5, Lower Mulago, where patients can access specialised hearing assessments.

The introduction of the equipment is expected to improve the hospital's ability to identify hearing difficulties, particularly among young children, while strengthening the diagnosis and management of ear-related conditions.