The Section of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery has made a giant leap toward making hearing rehabilitation more accessible.
A 3-year-old boy with bilateral congenital profound sensorineural hearing loss was given a chance to hear his parents’ voices, enjoy the sounds around him, and developmentally keep up with his normal-hearing peers.
Our Otologist, Dr. Giselle Gotamco-Lo, performed the first Cochlear Implant Surgery at Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center last January 9, 2026.
This was made possible through special assistance from the City of Manila through Mayor Francisco “Isko” Domagoso and a multidisciplinary surgical and technical team:
Otology:
Dr. Jona Minette Ligon
Dr. Adrian Alvarez
Dr. Katrina Angela Dionisio
Anesthesiology:
Dr. Camille Gotamco-Reyes-Lao
Dr. Caroline Santos
Pediatrics:
Dr. Rosalinda Yao
OR Nurses:
Rochelle Pinky Sebastian
Chariss Grace Rodrigo
Clinical Audiologist:
Hubert Ramos
Technicians:
Frank Daniel Balleser
Raymond Bruce
Rene Cabasan
Patients with congenital hearing loss are identified through Newborn Hearing Screening. A “refer” result prompts further testing through Auditory Brainstem Response for diagnosis. Once diagnosed, patients undergo hearing rehabilitation. If no benefit is seen from hearing aids, a patient may be advised to undergo cochlear implant surgery.
Children and adults with sensorineural hearing loss may undergo counseling and candidacy evaluation to determine potential benefit from cochlear implants.
