Dr Yuen Heng Wai

Associate Professor Yuen Heng Wai is the Immediate Past Head of the Otology, Neurotology & Hearing Implant Service and Senior Consultant ENT surgeon at Changi General Hospital . He completed his medical degree in Singapore and received advanced training in ear, hearing implants and lateral skull base surgery in USA, Canada and Australia.

He set up the adult Hearing Implant program in CGH in 2010. That has developed into a well-known Implant program in the region. He is also widely recognised for his extensive experience working with Neurosurgeons on lateral skull base conditions, particularly vestibular schwannoma surgery. He is well versed in treating ear conditions like hearing loss and hearing implants, vertigo (giddiness), tinnitus (noise in ear), ear infections and skull base tumors. He has trained many of the surgeons who are currently performing ENT and ear surgeries. He routinely shares his experience in these areas with surgeons in other hospitals in Singapore as he is a Visiting Consultant to Singapore General Hospital, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Kandang Kerbau Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKWCH) and Khoo Teck Puat Hospital.

He has published widely in peer-reviewed journals and is an editorial member on the leading Otology & Neurotology journal.

He held teaching appointments in all 3 medical schools in Singapore, and is involved in various education programs within the SingHealth cluster, SUTD, as well as Ministry of Health Singapore. He has received multiple teaching awards for teaching excellence. He also serves as an examiner for the ENT Specialist Exit Examination. He also holds various grants and leadership positions in healthcare technology and innovation groups.

A/Prof Yuen has also received numerous awards for providing outstanding service to his patients.

Academic Qualifications

• Masters of Health Professions Education (MHPE) – Maastricht 2018
• FAMS (Otorhinolaryngology) 2007
• Graduate Diploma in Family Medicine (NUS) 2006
• Diploma in Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery (Royal College of Surgeons of England) 2005
• Masters of Medicine (Otorhinolaryngology) 2004
• MRCS(Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh) 2000
• MBBS (Singapore) 1997

1. 1. Ear conditions: hearing loss, ear infection, ear discharge, ear pain, ear blocked, eustachian tube problems, dizziness, mastoid conditions, ear tumors, ear lumps
   2. Nose conditions: allergic rhinitis, epistaxis, nose blockage, congestion, smell disorders, runny nose, sneezing, sinusitis
   3. Throat conditions: tonsillitis, snoring, hoarseness, voice disorders, sorethroat, laryngopharyngeal reflux, vocal cord nodules
   4. Head & Neck conditions: neck lumps, cervical lymph nodes, thyroid nodules, thyroglossal cyst, salivary gland enlargement, salivary duct stones, salivary gland infection

1. Facial nerve conditions e.g. facial nerve weakness, Bell’s palsy, herpes zoster, facial nerve tumors
2. Lateral skull base conditions: vestibular schwannoma, cerebellopontine angle lesion
3. Temporal bone conditions: temporal bone fracture, temporal bone tumors, temporal bone infection, malignant otitis externa, cancer of external ear and temporal bone

1.Yuen HW, Tan LKS, Yeoh KH. An unusual presentation of secondary syphilis in
otolaryngology. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 2001; 125:277-9.
2. Leong JL, Yuen HW, LiVolsi VA , Loevner L, Narula N, Baloch Z, Weber RS. Insular
carcinoma of the thyroid with jugular vein invasion. Head Neck, 2004; 26:642-6.
3. Yuen HW, Goh YH, Low WK, Lim-Tan SK. Kimura’s disease: a diagnostic and
therapeutic challenge. Singapore Med J, 2005; 46:179-183.
4. Yuen HW, Ziober AF Gopal P, Nasrallah I, Falls EM, Meneguzzi G, Ang HQ, Ziober
BL. Suppression of laminin-5 expression leads to increased motility, tumorigenicity, and
invasion. Exp Cell Res, 2005; 309:198-210.
5. Yuen HW, Gan BK, Seow WT, Tan HKK. Dural sinus thrombosis after minor head
injury in a child. Ann Acad Med Singapore, 2005 ;34:639-41.
6. Yuen HW, Goh CHK, Tan TY. Enlarged cervical sympathetic ganglion: an unusual
parapharyngeal space tumor. Singapore Med J, 2006; 47:321-3.
7. Yuen HW, Tan HKK, Balakrishnan A. Synchronous airway lesions and associated
anomalies in children with laryngomalacia evaluated with rigid endoscopy. Int J Pediatr
Otorhinolaryngol, 2006; 70:1779-84.
8. Toh ST, Yuen HW, Goh YH, Goh CHK. Evaluation of recurrent nodal disease after
definitive radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma : diagnostic value of fine needle
aspiration cytology and CT scan. Head Neck, 2007; 29:370-7.
9. Yuen HW, Lee JCY, Yeak SCL. Nasolabial cysts : clinical features, diagnosis, and
treatment. Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg, 2007; 45:293-7.

10. Yuen HW, Loy AHC, Johari S. Urgent awake tracheotomy for impending airway obstruction. Otolaryngol
Head Neck Surg, 2007; 136:838-42.
11. Toh ST, Yuen HW, Goh YH. Actinomycetes colonization of tonsils: a comparative study between patients with
and without recurrent tonsillitis. J Laryngol Otol, 2007; 121:775-8.
12. Yuen HW, Chen JM. Reconstructive options for skull defects following translabyrinthine
surgery for vestibular schwannomas. Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 2008;16:318-24.
13. Yuen HW, Chen JM. External auditory canal osteoma. Otol Neurotol, 2008; 29:875-6.
14. Yuen HW, Thompson AL, Symons SP, Nedzelski JM. Bilateral persistent stapedial
artery. Otol Neurotol, 2008; 29:1205-6.
15. Yuen HW, Eikelboom RH, Atlas MD. Auditory manifestations of superior semicircular canal dehiscence. Otol
Neurotol, 2009; 30:280-5.
16. Yuen HW, Thompson AL, Symons SP, Pirouzmand F, Chen JM. Vascularised mastoid bone flap cranioplasty
after translabyrinthine vestibular schwannoma surgery. Skull Base, 2009; 19:193-202.

17. Ederies A, Yuen HW, Chen JM, Aviv RI, Symons SP. Traumatic stapes fracture with rotation and subluxation
into the vestibule and pneumolabyrinth. Laryngoscope, 2009; 119:1195-7.
18. Yuen HW, Bodmer D, Smilsky K, Nedzelski JM, Chen JM. Management of single-sided deafness with the
bone-anchored hearing aid. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 2009; 141:16-23.
19. Thompson AL, Aviv RI, Chen JM, Nedzelski JM, Yuen HW, Fox AJ, Bharatha A, Bartlett ES, Symons SP.
Magnetic resonance imaging of facial nerve schwannoma Laryngoscope, 2009; 119:2428-2436.
20. Yuen HW, Boeddinghaus R, Eikelboom RH, Atlas MD. The relationship between the air-bone gap and the size
of superior semicircular canal dehiscence. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 2009; 141:689-94.
21. Wang JR, Yuen HW, Shipp DB, Steward S, Lin VYW, Chen JM, Nedzelski JM. Cochlear implantation in patients
with autoimmune inner ear disease including Cogan syndrome: a comparison with age- and sex-matched
controls. Laryngoscope, 2010; 120:2478-83.
22. Toh ST, Yuen HW, Lim KH, Goh YH, Goh HK. Residual cervical lymphadenopathy after definitive treatment of
nasopharyngeal carcinoma : fine needle aspiration cytology, computed tomography and histopathological
findings. J Laryngol Otol, 2011; 125:70-7.
23. Yuen HW, Boeddinghaus R, Eikelboom RH, Atlas MD. 15 th Yahya Cohen Memorial Lecture – The relationship
between the air-bone gap and the size of superior semicircular canal dehiscence. Ann Acad Med Singapore,
2011; 40:59-66.
24. Subramaniam S, Tan TY, Yuen HW. Bilateral enlarged vestibular aqueduct with associated bilateral Mondini’s
dysplasia. Am J Otolaryngol, 2012; 33:455-6.
25. Soon SR, Kanagalingam J, Johari S, Yuen HW. Head and neck cancers masquerading as deep neck abscesses.
Singapore Med J, 2012; 53(12):840-2.
26. Cheng CS, Sanjay S, Yip CC, Yuen HW. Sphenoidal mucocele presenting as acute cranial nerve palsies. Saudi J
Ophthalmol, 2012; 26:459-61.

27. Charn TC, Subramaniam S, Yuen HW. Bell’s palsy in Singapore: a view from the patient’s perspective.
Singapore Med J, 2013; 54(2):82-5.
28. Tan LT, Tan AK, Hsu PP, Loh IC, Yuen HW, Chan YH, Lu PK. Effects of tonsillectomy on sleep study parameters
in adult patients with obstructive sleep apnea – a prospective study. Sleep Breath, 2014;18(2):265-8.
29. Lo YL, Cheong PW, Wong M, Fook-Chong S, Yuen HW, Chan YM. A comparison study of repetitive
transcranial magnetic stimulation for tinnitus treatment in an Asian population. Clin Neurol Neurosurg,
2014;119:96-9.
31. Ng JH, Zhang EZ, Soon SR, Tan VY, Tan TY, Mok PK, Yuen HW. Pre-operative high resolution computed
tomography scans for cholesteatoma: has anything changed? Am J Otolaryngol, 2014; 35(4):508-13.
32. Ng JH, Ho RC, Cheong CS, Ng A, Yuen HW, Ngo RY. Intratympanic steroids as salvage treatment for sudden
sensorineural hearing loss? A meta-analysis. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol, 2015; 272(10):2777-82.
33. Lim MY, Zhang M, Yuen HW, Leong JL. Current evidence for endolymphatic sac surgery in the treatment of
Meniere’s disease: A systematic review. Singapore Med J, 2015; 56(11):593-8.
34. Hu HX, Lim WY, Tan TY, Yuen HW. Neuroendocrine adenoma of middle ear with new bone formation and

review of literature. Am J Otolaryngol, 2016;37(2):108-11.
35. Heah H, Soon SR, Yuen HW. A case series of complicated infective otitis media requiring surgery in adults.
Singapore Med J, 2016; 57(12):681-685.
36. Thong JF, Low D, Tham A, Liew C, Tan TY, Yuen HW. Cochlear duct length – one size fits all? Am J
Otolaryngol, 2017; 38(2):218-221.
37. Chua CA, Low D, Tan TY, Yuen HW Cochlear implantation in an NPC patient post-irradiation presenting with
electrode array extrusion through the posterior canal wall. Am J Otolaryngol, 2017; 38(3):356-357.
38. Tan BWS, Low DYM, Yuen HW. An unusual case of temporal bone encephalomeningocele occurring together
with normal pressure hydrocephalus. Am J Otolaryngol, 2017;38(6):704-705.
39. Yeo WX, Xu SH, Tan TY, Low DYM, Yuen HW. Surgical management of pulsatile tinnitus secondary to jugular
bulb or sigmoid sinus diverticulum with review of literature. Am J Otolaryngol, 2018;39(2):247-252.

40. Dexian Tan A, Ng JH, Lim SA, Low DY, Yuen HW. Classification of temporal bone pneumatisation on high
resolution computed tomography: prevalence patterns and implications. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg,
2018;159(4):743-749.
41. Png LH, Pang JY, Karandikar A, Goh JPN, Yeo SB, Yuen HW. Otosclerosis in a non-endemic population: Utility
of CT scan and correlation with audiometry and surgical outcome. Ear, Nose, Throat Journal, 2018;97(6):156-
162.
42. Leong CWJ, Ng JH, Yuen HW. Dislocation of cochlear implant magnet during 1.5T MRI despite head
bandaging, and repositioning using endoscopic approach. J Laryngol Otol, 2018;132(10):943-945.
43. Yuen HW, Balakrishnan A. Next stop – teaching creativity and innovation in medical education. Med Teach,
2019;41(1):116-117.
44. Tan KL, Ganhasan S, Lu KS, Yuen HW, Loh CY, Chan YH, Hsu PP. PEAK PlasmaBlade versus monopolar
electrocautery tonsillectomy in adults: A prospective, double-blinded randomized controlled trial. Am J
Otolaryngol, 2019;40(4):478-481
45. Ng ACW, Yuen HW, Huang XY. Atypical thyroglossal duct cyst with intra-laryngeal and paraglottic extension.
Am J Otolaryngol, 2019;40(4):601-604.
46. Yu Y, See J, Ng JH, Low DYM, Tan TY, Yuen HW. Pattern of middle ear cholesteatoma and implications on
surgical approach. J Laryngol Otol, 2020;134(2):116-120.
47. Yuen HW, Balakrishnan A. Big data in medical education: are we ready? The Asia Pacific Scholar (TAPS),
2020;5(2):51-53
48. Tan VYJ, Zhang EZY, Daniel D, Sadovoy A, Teo NWY, Kiong KL, Toh ST, Yuen HW. Respiratory droplet
generation and dispersal during nasoendoscopy and upper respiratory swab testing. Head & Neck, 2020;
42:2779-2781
49. Chan HBY, Low D, Yuen HW, How CH. Tinnitus – ringing in the ears. Singapore Med J, 2020;61(9):448-452
50. Chua KWD, Yuen HW, Low DYM, Kamath S. Proposal on the diagnostic criteria of definite isolated otolith
dysfunction. J Audiol Otol 2021;25(1):59-60
51. Neo WL, Yuen HW. TORP ossiculoplasty in the presence of an intact stapes superstructure. Am J Otolaryngol

2021;42(1):102831.
52. Chua KWD, Yuen HW. Inter-professional collaboration to improve outpatient attendance rates on a cochlear
implant aural rehabilitation programme. Proc Singapore Healthcare 2021;30(2):99-102.
53. Renaud CJ, Chen ZX, Yuen HW, Tan LL, Pan LTT, Samarasekera DD. Implementation and impact of national
contingencies on learning and academic continuity during COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore. The Asia Pacific
Scholar (TAPS), Thematic issue 2021;6(3):14-23
54. Chua KWD, Yuen HW, Low DYM, Kamath SH. Proposal on the diagnostic criteria of definite isolated otolith
dysfunction. J Audiol Otol 2021;25(1):59-60
55. Chua KWD, Yuen HW, Kamath S. Boothless aided audiometry: a pilot study. Proc Singapore Healthcare 2022;
vol. 31, Jan-Dec 2022. https://doi.org/10.1177/20101058211040585
56. Tan AD, Ng JH, Low DY, Yuen HW. Postoperative healing and long-term stability after mastoid cavity
reconstruction using the middle temporal artery and inferior musculoperiosteal flaps. Eur Arch
Otorhinolaryngol 2022;279(2):639-644
57. Jang IJH, Yuen HW. Extensive cervicofacial emphysema after eustachian tube balloon tuboplasty. Otol
Neurotol 2022;43(9):e1056-7
58. Chua KWD, Yuen HW, Low DYM, Kamath SH. The prevalence of isolated otolith dysfunction in a local tertiary
hospital. J Otol 2022;17(1):5-12
59. Lee SW, Chua KWD, Yuen HW. Relationship between SARS-CoV-2 and hearing loss: a mini-review. Proc
Singapore Healthcare 2022; vol 31, Jan-Dec 2022. https://doi.org/10.1177/20101058221139957
60. Lee SW, Yuen HW, Low D, Kamath SH, Chua KWD. The functional impact of implantable hearing devices in
patients with single-sided deafness. Proc Singapore Healthcare 2023; vol 32, Jan-Dec 2023.
https://doi.org/10.1177/20101058231160604

61. Chu C, Tan LTH, Ng KS, Tan CS, Lee TS, Yuen HW, Lee W, Huang XY. Novel use of precipitating hydrophobic
injectable liquid (PHIL) in preoperative angioembolisation of a large posterior auricular arteriovenous
malformation. Am J Otolaryngol 2023;44(2):103786
62. Chu C, Tan SH, Yuen HW, Low D. A clinical conundrum: temporal bone metastases from lung
adenocarcinoma. Am J Otolaryngol 2023;44(4):103880 (online ahead of print)

BOOK CHAPTER
1. Canalplasty/Meatoplasty. Chapter 20, THE CHRONIC

1. Head & Senior Consultant, Otology, Balance and Hearing Implant Service, Department of
   Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Changi General Hospital
2. Director, Surgical Technology & Innovation (Surgery Academic Clinical Program), Singhealth Duke-
   NUS Academic Medical Centre
3. Deputy Director, SingHealth Medical Technology Office, SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical
   Centre
4. Program Director, Singapore University of Technology & Design (SUTD) – Duke-NUS Clinician Special
   Track
5. Director (Changi Campus), SingHealth Duke-NUS Institute of Medical Simulation (SIMS)
6. Visiting Consultant to: Singapore General Hospital, Sengkang General Hospital, Tan Tock Seng
   Hospital, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital

1. Singapore Medical Association (SMA) – Life Member
2. Prosper Meniere Society (USA) – Board Member\
3. Chapter of Otorhinolaryngologists, College of Surgeons – Academy of Medicine Singapore – Board Member
4. College of Clinician Educators – Academy of Medicine Singapore – Member
5. Society of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery Singapore (SOHNSS) – Member