ENT surgeon heads audiology wing in Hyderabad

M. Vishnuvardhan Reddy, professor of ENT in Osmania Medical College/Government ENT Hospital, Koti, has been posted professor of audiology in the Government ENT Hospital

The Government ENT Hospital, Koti, has a new head of the audiology wing. The catch, however, is that the new professor is not an audiologist but an ENT surgeon!

The government has issued appointment orders when the incumbent and a qualified audiologist had two more months to go for his contract period to end.

In orders released two days ago, M. Vishnuvardhan Reddy, professor of ENT in Osmania Medical College/Government ENT Hospital, Koti, has been posted professor of audiology in the Government ENT Hospital “in the existing vacancy.”

But, official sources said that no such post existed in the audiology wing, the only such functioning unit anywhere in the State.

The post of the head of the audiology wing has been upgraded in 2006 with V.U. Nandur, appointed as the professor, chief speech pathologist and audiologist, and he continued in the post till he retired last year.

Reappointed

Prof.Nandur, the only speech pathologist and audiologist in government service, was reappointed last year on a one year contract.

The audiology wing receives 200 patients daily and does new born screening, hearing assessment, hearing loss, rehabilitation besides, verifying hearing impaired cases for employment and scholarships.

It was the second time that the government was trying to post the ENT surgeon to the audiology wing.

Previously done in 2005

The previous effort was in 2005 when the demand was made to post Dr. Reddy as professor of audiology and speech pathology at the hospital.

The then ENT Hospital Superintendent replied to the government: “Audiology and speech pathology is a separate subject/speciality with undergraduate, postgraduate and Ph.D. qualifications.

It is a completely different subject exclusively deals with speech, language and hearing disorders.

Separate institutions

There are separate institutions in India which impart training in this particular speciality wherein the subject taught is entirely different from ‘Otorhinolaryngology’ (ENT). [But] The specialities i.e. ENT and audiology & speech pathology function together in a clinical set up.”

‘Post can’t be upgraded’

He further stated: “Dr. M. Vishnuvardhan Reddy, presently working as associate professor (sic) of ENT, Osmania Medical College, does not possess either undergraduate, postgraduate or Ph.D. qualifications in speech pathology and audiology (speech & hearing). Hence, his present post cannot be upgraded to that of the professor of audiology and speech pathology at the Government ENT Hospital.”