Genius is one per cent inspiration and ninety-nine per cent perspiration. The Divisions of Speech Therapy and Audiology, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, CUHK believe that many of our colleagues in the field are pulling hairs and killing brain cells for the advancement of speech and hearing sciences. We acknowledge and thank every one of you for your efforts towards progress in our field.

The Hong Kong Speech and Hearing Symposium 2014 will be yet another year of witnessing of such efforts through many different modalities. The programme will be loaded with free paper sessions, workshops, keynotes and poster presentations in both speech therapy and audiology. Local experts plus those travelling from far and wide will share with us the latest research, their heart and passions for the profession, celebrating together yet another two years of productive ‘perspiration’.

I cordially invite you to join us in the Hong Kong Speech and Hearing Symposium 2014 to come learn, enjoy and share with us these exciting times for the profession.

I look forward to seeing you in October!

Professor Andrew VAN HASSELT
Professor of Surgery (Otor) and Chairman
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery
The Chinese University of Hong Kong

I have organized and attended many scientific symposia and although they all are all similar in their educational goals and contents, one of them never fails to impress the participants - the Hong Kong Speech and Hearing Symposium organized by the Divisions of Speech Therapy and Audiology, Faculty of Medicine.

Let me bring you to the 2014 extravagant feast. The secret to the recipe is a couple of inspiring keynotes; a teaspoon of interactive workshops; a generous amount of oral presentations with chilli seasoning from participant discussions just to liven up the plate; a handful of poster presentations; a swathe of good food and a dash of social gathering. Method is to marinate, stir, mix well, season and serve.

Of course, any amazing feast would be nothing but a lonely chef without fine diners. The Divisions of Speech Therapy and Audiology of Faculty of Medicine request the honour of your presence to our Speech and Hearing Symposium dated this October 2014.

I am excited that this great feast is imminent! See you there!

Professor Michael C.F. TONG
Head of Academic Divisions
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery
The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Doris Lessing once said: ‘that is what learning is. You suddenly understand something you’ve understood all your life, but in a new way.” I cannot agree more that the Hong Kong Speech and Hearing Symposium 2014 does not aim to indoctrinate you, but rather provide you with new insights to research, new ideas for therapy and new topics for office room discussions.

October’s programme, organized by the Divisions of Speech Therapy and Audiology of the Faculty of Medicine, CUHK will be a weekend of fun learning through multiple modalities to suit the different learning styles of the unique you. You will be stimulated visually through poster presentations, aurally through our keynotes, and free-paper sessions and emotionally through meeting other experts in the field..

I look forward to seeing your passionate faces and preparedness to learn and share at our Speech and Hearing Symposium 2014!

Professor Kathy Y.S. LEE
Associate Professor & Chief
Division of Speech Therapy
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery
The Chinese University of Hong Kong

My friend once asked me: “Anna, what’s so fascinating about audiology that keeps you on your toes?” I paused for a moment, and reflected on what I’d been doing the last decade of my life. This is what I told her:

“Well, we study the ability in humans, and its confiscated counterpart, where an intangible, also invisible, energy reverberates within a bony labyrinth cave, which my colleagues like to call the middle ear. That pulse of mystical sense goes on a rollercoaster ride, submerged in an aqueous milieu, which you might call the cochlea, then stampedes through a fluffy bush, finally arriving at its destination, our intellect. I think deciphering that skill is what fascinates me.” She gazed at me in moment of silence.

Although a description somewhat pompous, you can almost certainly be assured to decode that mystical ability at our Speech and Hearing Symposium 2014 and learn about this fascinating phenomenon. The Divisions of Audiology and Speech Therapy of the Faculty of Medicine, CUHK, cordially invite you to attend this year’s Speech and Hearing Symposium.

I look forward to seeing you at this exciting event!

Adjunct Assistant Professor
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery
The Chinese University of Hong Kong