Organization: Quirino Memorial Medical Center – Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
Title: World Hearing Day 2026: From Communities to Classrooms: Hearing care for every child QMMC Free Hearing Screening and Lay Forum
Al title (for format and translation – not permanent:
World Hearing Day 2026: From communities to classrooms: Hearing care for every child QMMC free hearing screening and lay forum
Description:
The Quirino Memorial Medical Center (QMMC) Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery celebrated WHO’s World Hearing Day 2026 with a two-day affair of hearing screening, lay forum and showing of visual presentations on proper ear care and prevention of hearing loss for both QMMC employees and Grade 1 students of Doña Teodora Alonzo Elementary School in Project 4, Quezon City. The event strengthened our advocacy of promoting ear health and prevention of hearing loss in our own hospital as well as in children in which the school is the natural entry point for integrating hearing care early. This event was headed by in-house Otology consultants Dr. Erasmo Gonzalo DV. Llanes and Dr. Jenna Marie C. Quiroga with the help of the Public Health Unit officer Ms. Marcel Naida S. Nicolas.
On day 1 of our activity, ear examination was done for all QMMC employees and guests upon registration. Each participant then proceeded to the initial hearing screening utilizing the HearWHO application on smartphones and tablets. Final hearing screening was done using manual screening audiometers (pure tone audiometers). Short video clips of proper ear care and prevention of hearing loss were shown on loop throughout the event for all participants to watch while waiting in line. Results for both the HearWHO application and pure tone audiometry were compiled and discussed at the last station.
On day 2 of our activity, it was held in Doña Teodora Alonzo Elementary School in Project 4, Quezon City. Grade 1 students, together with their guardians proceeded to the registration area for the ear examination. Each student then proceeded to the manual screening audiometers (pure tone audiometers). Short video clips of proper ear care and prevention of hearing loss were also shown on loop throughout the event for all students and guardians to watch while waiting in line. Results for the pure tone audiometry were discussed at the last station.
A total of 97 participants from our QMMC employees and guests attended the first day of our hearing screening to celebrate World Hearing Day.
Summary of the results of the HearWHO app are as follows:
41% of the QMMC Employees and guests scored 75 on the HearWHO app interpreted as “good hearing”
Summary of the results of the pure tone audiometry are as follows:
Among the 92 QMMC Employees and guests, 43% had normal hearing, 35% had bilateral mild hearing loss, 8% had unilateral mild hearing loss, 8% had bilateral moderate hearing loss, 65 had mixed mild and moderate hearing loss, and none with profound hearing loss.
Among the 46 Grade 1 students at Doña Teodora Alonzo Elementary School, 83% had normal hearing, 11% had mild hearing loss with associated impacted cerumen, 2% had mild hearing loss with unremarkable ear finding, 2% had moderate hearing loss with associated impacted cerumen, and 2% had moderate hearing loss with unremarkable ear finding.
Celebrating WHO’s World Hearing Day this year through a hearing screening program and lay forum for both hospital employees and Grade 1 students was a great way to continue health promotion activities on ear and hearing health care as primary prevention. It is important for early introduction into the school health programs to reach the parents and teachers as well. These activities will ultimately bridge to secondary (medical treatment) and tertiary prevention (surgical and rehabilitative treatment) activities in the hospital in the future.
Primary site: WPR – Philippines
Region: WPR
General Photos
WHD2026 QMMC Dept ORL-HNS with volunteers
WHD2026 QMMC HearWHO app & Screening Audiometry
WHD2026 QMMC Grade 1 Students Otoscopy & Hearing Screening
WHD2026 QMMC Grade 1 Students Hearing Screening
Types of Engagement:
Live event: No
Screening: Yes
Traditional media: No
Social media: Yes
Special needs populations: children and adolescents
Met with individual policymaker: No
Participation of policy makers: Yes
Participation of influencers: No
WHO technical tool used: Yes
WHO educational and social media used: Yes