Beautiful Pressure in KL

Want to experience changing of middle ear pressure amidst gorgeous KL scenery?

You can do so, by heading up to Look Out Point, Ampang~!

The location is on a hill, so once you go up there, the atmospheric pressure becomes more negative than the middle ear pressure. You would feel a feeling of blockage. To overcome this feeling, you may perform the Valsalva maneuver. How you ask? You introduce positive pressure by pinching your nose and then slowly blow through your mouth. This will then equalize the middle ear pressure.

Once you reach Look Out Point, you would most probably forget everything as the view on top would simply blow you away. It blew me away. Simply fascinating.

There were several restaurants where you can enjoy the scenery and stimulate your palette at the same time. The food were okay and affordable. The price is not that cheap, and not that exorbitant. Me and my friends had our supper at Haven @ d Peak, which is the highest restaurant there. After that we headed to the Menara Tinjau, the highest point, to take in the awesome night view, and of course some picture taking :).





After much snapping, we went back down to KL. None of us actually did experience any changing middle ear pressure going down. But just so you know, going downhill would of course cause more positive middle ear pressure, thus you should be performing Toynbee Maneuver to equalize the pressure. Just a simple maneuver: pinch your nose and swallow.

These maneuvers could be applied especially when you are boarding the flight or diving; this helps to prevent barotrauma.

So what are you waiting for? Head on to Look Out Point, now~! :D

The 4 Years Journey

As posted in facebook, I thought this song reflects best my ups and downs in becoming an Audiologist. The 4 years journey has been a bittersweet wonderful experience, all of which I would treasure til my last breath. Here it is.

Miley Cyrus - the Climb

I can almost see it
That dream I'm dreaming but
There's a voice inside my head sayin,
You'll never reach it,
Every step I'm taking,
Every move I make feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking but I
Got to keep trying
Got to keep my head held high

There's always going to be another mountain
I'm always going to want to make it move
Always going to be an uphill battle,
Sometimes I'm gonna to have to lose,
Ain't about how fast I get there,
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb

The struggles I'm facing,
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes might knock me down but
No I'm not breaking
I may not know it
But these are the moments that
I'm going to remember most yeah
Just got to keep going
And I,
I got to be strong
Just keep pushing on, cause

There's always going to be another mountain
I'm always going to want to make it move
Always going to be an uphill battle,
Sometimes I'm gonna to have to lose,
Ain't about how fast I get there,
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb (yeah)

There's always going to be another mountain
I'm always going to want to make it move
Always going to be an uphill battle,
Sometimes you going to have to lose,
Ain't about how fast I get there,
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb (yeah yeah ea ea)

Keep on moving
Keep climbing
Keep the faith baby
It's all about
It's all about
The climb
Keep the faith
Keep your faith

Whoa a oh oh


1st Year 2005/2006


2nd Year 2006/2007


3rd Year 2007/2008


4th Year 2008/2009

Ear Joke?

I was hanging out with a friend when we saw a woman with a nose ring attached to an earring by a chain.

My friend said, "Ouch! The chain must rip out every time she turns her head!"

I had to explain that a person's nose and ear remain the same distance apart no matter which way the head is turned...

Lol.

They Walk Among Us !

Essential Steps to Safe Clean Care

This is especially for those who visit the hospital. It is important because patients in the hospital are at risk of infection and this may prolong stay and delay recovery.

1. Hand washing
The single most important way of reducing infection is by washing hands. Clean your hands regularly, especially
- before and after visiting patient
- on entering and leaving hospital
- after using the toilet and bathroom

You may use soap and water, but if your hands are visibly clean you may use alcohol gel instead, which is usually placed at the entrance to all wards.

2. Manage children
Children should be discouraged from crawling on the floor and must be supervised at all times.

3. The environment
Help keep the hospital environment clean tidy by:
- disposing rubbish into the bins
- cleaning off any mud or dirt on foot before entering the hospital

4. Flowers
Flowers have been sort of like a traditional gift for the patient. However, it is actually impractical within hospitals as it pose risk of infection.

5. Wound management
Avoid touching any wounds, drip, etc on patients. If you accidentally do so, wash your hands immediately.

6. Isolation room
Get permission from the nurse counter before entering the room.

7. Visiting hours
Adhere to the hospital policy and the visiting times. Try to limit the number of visitors at the patient bedside at all times as patient needs to rest.

8. Personal hygiene
Shower frequently and change into clean clothes regularly. Do not walk about in bare feet, wear slippers or shoes. Visitors who are coughing and sneezing or feeling ill, avoid visiting patients in hospitals.

SOUND in Audiology

I was studying and found this simple yet straight-forward facts of sound in Audiology. The word SOUND can be used to easily remember the things that could cause hearing problems.

S = Sensory overload

O = Old age
~ age-related hearing loss usually does not lead to deafness but to auditory isolation.

U = Undiagnosed tumors or under-treated infections

N = Non-functioning ear canal or bones
~ anything that blocks the ear canal reduces sound flow

D = Damage from drugs, trauma or pressure
~ certain drugs have a toxic effect on hearing.
~ trauma and pressure trauma can damage the ear and also cause hearing loss.

As easy as ABC. Hear well, always! :)

Counting Down

Yay, I submitted my soft-bound thesis today! One day before actual submit date. So proud of myself. It was a great feeling, I must say. Can't wait when I actually submit the hard copy. Might reach euphoria level.

So. Checklist.

15/4 : Paper I Clinic IV - check

17/4 : Submit soft-bound thesis - check (one day early, wee~)

21/4 : Clinical + Viva exam - check. Pls Pass. Amin.

28/4 : Paper II Clinic IV

7/5 : Thesis viva

12/5 : Advanced Clinic exam

13/5 : I am freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee~

3 down, 3 more to go. Bring it on ;)

Audiometry: An Audiological Test or a Music Band?

I was suddenly inspired by my boyfriend's countless urges and my own bestie's doing of youtubing for every practical examination.

So I typed Play Audiometry, a behavioral hearing test for children, on youtube.

None about Play Audiometry came out.

Just lots of videos from a music band named 'Audiometry'.

Funny. And they don't even sing! Just jamming sessions, I assume.

I don't think they're even Audiologists.

LOL. The things you find in youtube...

Final Exams. Hopefully Really Final.

Classes are over.

Clinical sessions are over.

Waiting for feedback.

And then.

Exams.

Final exams.

Really really really final exams. Hopefully.

Am I ready for this?

Hopefully so.

I just need to pass and graduate!

Do pray for me :)

An Ethical Dilemma

Recently, final year Audiology & Speech Sciences students were assigned to present an ethical dilemma.

My group videotaped the dilemma, acted out by our very own group members.



Here's the video. Do let me know if you have any feedback regarding the dilemma :D



There are two dilemmas:

1. The ENT Doctor is the boss of the Audiologist. So the Audiologist needs to oblige to the ENT Doctor who is the Head of the Department. But then, he won't be on the good side of his boss.

2. The Audiologist is compromising patient's realistic benefits from cochlear implant if he follows the Doctor's orders.

A Walk to Remember

On the 28th of March, the Department of Audiology & Speech Sciences held their annual dinner at Dynasty Hotel to commemorate the Earth Hour (not!). The third year students, by tradition, were responsible to organize the dinner to celebrate the fourth years. Despite the time schedule being really hectic and tight, I made the effort to make myself gorgeous for the night. And so the chronology of events was as followed:

1. The dress : I planned to use the dress I already have but alter it a bit to make it more glam. I assigned my talented sister-in-law in February to do beading on my dress. Alas, she was busy, and the design she initially made could not be completed in time, so she redid a simple design.

Sad. But what to do...

2. The scarf : I together with Nora followed my boyfriend to Kuala Terengganu to attend his colleague's wedding. Whilst there, I scavenged for the perfect scarf, based on the magazine Pengantin. It was difficult. In the end I just bought a cheap one which I didn't even wear on the night itself. Instead, I wore the more merelip (glittery) one that I bought in Maju Junction with Mer and Miha. Yay.

But sad because our pictures during our shopping trip were accidentally deleted. Sorry Mer and Miha!

3. The gloves : Oh, the drama that entailed in the quest for the satin gloves! Searched for it in OU, MidValley and lastly Sg Wang. Supposed to go with boyfriend, but then a misunderstanding occurred, and so I went alone. Searched for about 20 minutes and found it! On the way back home, tried it on and it was too big! Went with Miha and Mer around the Sogo area to alter it, but no shop could provide the service. The next day went back to Bukit Bintang to fix it, and yay, success! ;)

Was quite worth it, wearing the gloves glammed up my dress, and even Prof Siti said I looked like Saloma wearing it. I loike! ;p

4. The shoes : Since I did not feel like spending a lot for the dinner, I just improvised my black shoes by putting purple brooch on each shoe.

Nice and creative, isn't it?

5. The make-up : I went all the way to Klang to get 'professional' help from Cik Farah Wirda. She did an excellent job, I tell you! Her transformation made me to the top 5 finalists for the Queen of the Night. Too bad I didn't win.

Nevertheless, the Klang trip was worth it. I heart you Kak Farah!

6. The clutch : I borrowed Mak's clutch! She bought it for Ari's wedding, and I actually specifically based my choice of colours with that clutch.

Another cost-saving tactic success ;p




The preparation went well and when the night came, va-va-voom, voila, a beautiful me :) hehe. The dinner was, not that bad, but the night was more memorable as I had my partner besides me. Dynasty Hotel was not a good choice, but I had to give the juniors credit for their effort. I liked the butterfly bracelet though.

And to think, it's my final dinner as an undergraduate... Oh well, life moves on.

OK, next!

A Bad Start to a Good End :)

Seriously, I initially thought I was going to have the worst day of my life. On my final research presentation day at that. Huh.

I woke up late, with my script for my presentation still unfinished. I actually woke up to a dream of me being asked regarding Spatial Release of Masking (SRM, a term in audiology). I had no idea what it was in the dream! I woke up distressed. Thank God it was only a dream. With my red pen still in hand, I straight-away continued writing my script.

Which made me being more late to get ready to go to college. Good thing I ironed my outfit the night before, my lovely turquoise batik. Had a somewhat-scrambled egg (Sorry Mak, you were not at your best ;p) hurriedly only to be greeted with rain outside. Mak sent me to the car, but then we went back in to get my cute umbrella (Fit gave me, made in Japan baby!) only to find out it's with my brother's girlfriend. Got back into the car, it was low on petrol, putting me on the edge of my nerves. As I reversed my car, it almost hit 1. my mom's Mazda; 2. the brick wall. I tried to move up, but with the rain, the tyres were slippery, and were just squealing instead of moving. I literally screamed inside the car, and cried. A little. Tearfully I tried reversing and made it without a scratch.

As I squealed off towards the highway, I calmed myself down, reciting some Quran verses. And then I entered into the slow traffic. Great. I haven't even finished my script! I kept on reciting under my breath, to sooth myself. Yet, the butterflies in my stomach wouldn't go away.

When I reached there, I waited anxiously for my turn. The presenter before me had a lot of negative comments, making me extra nervous. When it was my turn to present, the shiver in my words was hard not to be missed. I was pretty uncomfortable, not liking how the microphone and mouse were placed. Nevertheless, I had my script, and after a while I grew more confident, I think.



When I finished, the speech sciences lecturer said she enjoyed my presentation and my supervisor commented and acknowledged my effort. It put me on high. The best part was, during the Q&A session for the presenter after me, another speech sciences lecturer praised my presentation and said sorry for not telling me earlier. How cool was that?

My friends congratulated me and even said my outfit was gorgeous. I was in eternal bliss :) Momentarily, before tiredness crawled into me after lunch. I could barely open my eyes for the afternoon session!

Much appreciation and compliments to Mak for letting me use her working space for the weekend, my parents for praying for me, Dr. Siti for replying my texts!, Suriya for always being on YM when I needed her, Faiz for your patience, support, KFC treat (:P) and helping me out with the presentation animation and Mas, Fit for the wishes. You guys rock :)