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We rely on our sense of hearing in our day-to-day lives. With healthy hearing abilities, we can maintain sound conversations every day, as well as navigate the world and be aware of our surroundings. We often take our hearing ability for granted and start realising its importance when it starts to fade. Let’s begin valuing this gift of God and take precautionary measures to protect our hearing every day, preserving our natural hearing abilities for a lifetime, or as long as we can!

Addressing Hearing Loss

Millions of people in India suffer from some kind of hearing loss, irrespective of age and gender. Hearing problems affect not only the patient but also their family members and friends, who struggle to talk to them, even during simple conversations. Individuals with hearing difficulties find it challenging to hear certain high-frequency speech sounds, like the ‘s’, ‘f’, and ‘th’ sounds. It often results in misunderstanding and frustration, particularly when the hearing-impaired individual asks others to repeat themselves.

Thanks to smart hearing aids for coming as a permanent solution to hearing loss. Today’s digital hearing aids are packed with advanced programming features and automated technologies designed to treat a range of hearing problems. Modern hearing aids and other assistive listening devices also help improve the sound quality and offer comfortable fits to maximise the hearing experience for the user. Treat your hearing loss problems promptly to prevent further decline in your hearing ability and communication, and to minimise the risks of cognitive issues, like dementia.

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Know Your Ears

The human ear is a complex yet fascinating organ that enables us to hear and be aware of our surroundings and maintains our body balance and posture. The anatomy of the ear helps us to understand its different parts, how it works, and why we must take care of it.

The human ear has three main parts: the outer ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear. Each component plays a unique function in the overall hearing process.

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Outer Ear

The outer ear is responsible for collecting the external sound waves and channelling them towards the middle ear. Its key components include:  
  • Pinna or Auricle: The Pinna is the visible, outer part of the ear that captures the sound waves. It acts as a funnel and channels the sound waves toward the ear canal.
  • Ear Canal: The Ear Canal, also known as the External Auditory Canal, is a tube-like pathway that transmits the sound waves from the pinna to the eardrum. The earwax of the ear canal protects the inner ear from dirt, debris, and bacteria.
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Middle Ear

The middle ear amplifies the sound waves by converting them into mechanical vibrations and transmits them to the inner ear. It includes:  
  • Tympanic Membrane or Eardrum: It is a thin membrane that vibrates every time sound waves strike it. It acts as a barrier between the outer and middle ear, protecting the delicate components within.
  • Ossicles: The ossicles are a group of three small bones - the malleus (hammer), the incus (anvil), and the stapes (stirrup). Although the ossicles are the smallest bones in the human body, they play a vital role in amplifying the sound vibrations collected from the eardrum and transmitting them to the inner ear.
  • Eustachian Tube: It is a narrow tube that connects the middle ear to the back of the throat. Its primary function is to regulate the air pressure inside the middle ear and equalise the air pressure with the outside environment. Additionally, it helps to drain the mucus and fluid from the middle ear, thus preventing wax buildup and potential ear infections.
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Inner Ear

The inner ear is primarily responsible for two functions: hearing (managed by the cochlea) and balance (managed by the vestibular system). It comprises:  
  • Cochlea: The cochlea is a spiral-shaped organ that comprises tiny hair cells. These hair cells convert mechanical sound vibrations into electrical signals, which the brain can interpret.
  • Semicircular Canals: These three fluid-filled canals help detect rotational movements of the head. The tiny hair cells inside the semicircular canals can sense the fluid (endolymph) movement, allowing the brain to maintain balance, posture, and spatial awareness.
  • Auditory Nerve: The auditory nerve transmits the converted electrical signals from the cochlea to the brain, where these are processed and interpreted as meaningful sounds. As a result, we also perceive the tone, pitch, and volume of the sound and detect vital environmental sounds.
  • Vestibule: The vestibular system contains two otolith organs (the utricle and the saccule). They, along with the semicircular canals, help detect linear acceleration, maintain spatial orientation, and sense body movement when the endolymph shifts, and send this vital information to the brain. The brain, in turn, sends signals to respective body parts to make necessary adjustments to maintain the right posture and stay balanced, particularly during motion, thus preventing falls.

How Does Our Sense of Hearing Work?

The process of hearing begins when the pinna of the outer ear receives sound waves, every time we come across a sound-generating source. The pinna then directs these sound waves into the ear canal, causing the eardrum to vibrate. The vibrations are then transmitted to the ossicles, which then amplify them and further channel them to the cochlea in the inner ear. The cochlea converts these mechanical vibrations into electrical signals, which are then sent to the brain via the auditory nerve.

 

Next, the brain processes and interprets the sound by analysing the pitch, tone, volume, timbre, and spatial location. The auditory cortex of the brain’s temporal lobe is responsible for processing these sound signals. It also differentiates between different sounds, such as music, speech, and noise. That’s when we can actually hear, and the entire hearing process occurs within a fraction of a second.

Hearing loss occurs when a person experiences a partial or complete inability to hear sounds in one or both ears. An individual with hearing loss may face trouble understanding or participating in day-to-day conversations, particularly in noisy environments. Hearing loss may have varying degrees, like mild, moderate, moderately severe, severe, and profound. This reduced ability to hear may occur gradually, which is why hearing loss often goes unnoticed. Problems start when hearing loss starts impacting one’s communication, professional life, relationships, and quality of life.

Causes of Hearing Loss

The common causes of hearing loss include ageing (presbycusis), ear infections, continuous exposure to loud noise (noise-induced hearing loss), medical conditions (like hypertension or diabetes), earwax blockage, hereditary factors, trauma or injuries, among others.

Certain types of hearing loss, like noise-induced hearing loss, are preventable by minimising or avoiding exposure to loud noises (lowering the TV/earphone volume and wearing earplugs in noisy situations.

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Types of Hearing Loss

Hearing loss can be classified into three main types: Conductive, Sensorineural, and Mixed. Each type has distinct risk factors, causes, and treatment options. Understanding the right hearing loss type through diagnostic tests is crucial to determine the right treatment option.

01

Conductive Hearing Loss

Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound waves are unable to travel smoothly through the outer or middle ear due to some obstacles (like earwax or fluid buildup), a perforated eardrum, ear infections, or problems with the ossicles in the middle ear. Conductive hearing loss is treatable in most cases with surgery or medication.
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Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Sensorineural hearing loss occurs due to sudden problems in the inner ear (cochlea) or the auditory nerve. The common causes of sensorineural hearing loss include head injuries, trauma, exposure to loud noises, and Meniere’s disease. Cochlear implantation or hearing aids are common treatment options for sensorineural hearing loss.
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Mixed Hearing Loss

Mixed hearing loss is a combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. It indicates that there is an obstacle or infection in the outer or middle ear, as well as some damage to the inner ear or the auditory nerve. Mixed hearing loss may be treated via a combination of therapies, hearing devices, and surgeries.

Signs of Hearing Loss

If you experience the following signs and symptoms, it may be time to get your hearing tested by a qualified audiologist:

The prevention of hearing loss starts with protecting your ears in your day-to-day life. The simple habit of wearing earmuffs or earplugs in noisy environments or lowering the TV/radio volume can make a huge difference! While permanent hearing problems caused by factors like ageing, injuries, genetics, etc., cannot be prevented, some of them can! For example, you can easily prevent a noise-induced hearing loss or one caused by earwax buildup or ear infections.

Preserve Your Hearing

Here’s good news! Many hearing loss problems can be prevented or improved with healthy lifestyle changes and developing good practices. Hearing loss can affect one’s quality of life and impact relationships, work, mental health, and self-esteem.

But with the right treatment, you can regain the sounds and the life you have been missing out on! Protect your ears and preserve a healthy hearing threshold for the upcoming years. Also, get regular hearing checkups for early detection.

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Understanding the Risk Factors

Hearing loss may result from multiple factors, including loud noise exposure, ageing, ear infections, fluid buildup, medications, medical conditions, or genetics. Hearing problems resulting from the following factors are usually preventable.

01

Exposure to Loud Noises

Continuous exposure to loud noises, like construction sites, concerts, and sports events, can cause permanent damage to the inner ear.
02

Ototoxic Medications

Some ototoxic medications may damage the delicate inner ear sensory hair cells. Consult your doctor before taking any medications.
03

Ear Infections and Fluid Buildup

Frequent ear infections or fluid buildup may cause temporary hearing loss. When left untreated, these may result in irreversible hearing damage.

Simple Ways to Protect Your Ears and Prevent Hearing Loss

Protect your hearing, develop good habits, and get your hearing checked regularly to prevent hearing loss.

Hearing aids are small electronic devices designed to amplify the day-to-day sounds for people with hearing loss. These are life-changing devices that enable hearing-impaired individuals to hear more clearly, participate in everyday conversations, and enjoy a fuller life. They come in various designs, sizes, models, and technological advancements. While some models can be worn behind the ear, others sit comfortably near or within the ear canal, which are suitable for individuals who prefer invisible hearing devices.

How Do Hearing Aids Work?

Hearing aids have three main components: a microphone, an amplifier, and a speaker. The microphone collects external sounds, converts them into electrical signals, and sends them to the amplifier, which further increases their strength. The amplified sound is then delivered to the ear canal via a speaker or receiver.

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Choosing the Right Hearing Aid

Choosing the right hearing aid is vital to ensure optimal hearing performance and comfort. Your audiologist will prescribe a suitable hearing aid tailored to your specific hearing loss type and degree, your lifestyle preferences, and your budget. A properly configured and well-fitted hearing aid ensures effective sound delivery and comfort throughout the day.

01

Understand Your Unique Hearing Needs

Get your hearing tested by a qualified audiologist to determine the type and degree of your hearing loss. Based on your hearing loss type and severity, the professional will guide you on the specific hearing aid features and styles that would benefit you the most.
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Consider Your Lifestyle Choices

Do you get innumerable phone calls throughout the day or spend most of your time in noisy environments? Think about all the listening environments you need to experience every day to determine which hearing aid model would best suit your lifestyle needs.
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Prioritise a Secure and Comfortable Fit

Wearing comfortable hearing aids with a secure fit ensures they don’t fall off while delivering high-quality sounds. Hearing aid styles range from behind-the-ear (BTE) to invisible-in-canal (IIC) - choose a comfortable fit according to your hearing needs and styling preferences.

Key Benefits of Hearing Aids

With the right hearing aids, you can participate in everyday conversations and social activities more fully and confidently.

Modern hearing aids can do more than simply amplify sounds! They are designed with intelligent features and come in discreet styles to remain hidden in your ear canal completely. Today’s hearing aids are tailored to suit your unique lifestyle choices and desired listening experiences. Digital hearing aids incorporate advanced technologies, such as adaptive directional microphones and noise reduction, to improve the individual’s hearing experience in varying listening environments.

Comfort and Design

Hearing aids come in varying styles, sizes, and designs to meet your hearing needs, ear anatomy, and design preferences. While custom-fit hearing aids are tailored to fit your ear comfortably, the discreet models, like completely-in-canal and completely-in-canal, are designed to stay hidden inside your ear canal.

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Advanced Features of Modern Digital Hearing Aids

Digital hearing aids use advanced technology to convert sound waves into numerical codes. They use digital signal processing to adjust to your listening environment by distinguishing speech from background noise.

01

Binaural Integration

Wearing hearing aids in both ears provides a natural listening experience by improving sound quality.
02

Adaptive Directional Microphones

They automatically adjust sound amplification by improving speech recognition and reducing background noise in crowded places.
03

Feedback Cancellation

Get rid of the irritating whistling sounds or the stroking of your hair through feedback cancellation technology.

Experience the Future with Digital Hearing Aids

Explore new listening experiences with features like automatic sound adjustment, smartphone app control, telecoil support, and others.

Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs) open up new possibilities for hearing-impaired individuals, enabling them to enjoy better listening experiences and improved communication, even in noisy situations. These technologies are equipped with advanced features, like personal amplifiers, remote microphones, induction loops, FM systems, telephone amplifiers, etc., to supplement hearing aids. They help enhance sounds in settings where hearing aids or cochlear implants alone may not be effective, such as while having one-on-one conversations in public spaces or talking over the phone.

Enhancing Listening Experience Beyond Hearing Aids

In certain settings, hearing aids may not be enough. Therefore, ALDs are designed to work with hearing aids to enhance sound quality and speech clarity, while minimising background noise, such as in a lecture hall, a noisy restaurant, a fish market, or while watching TV at home.

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Types of Assistive Listening Devices

You can choose from a wide range of ALDs depending on your hearing needs and listening environments. The common types include CROS, FM systems, infrared systems, telephone amplifiers, personal amplifiers, induction loop systems, and others.

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CROS (Contralateral Routing of Signal)

CROS hearing aids are specifically designed for people with unilateral hearing loss (hearing impairment in one ear).
02

FM Systems

FM systems transmit sounds as radio waves to enhance speech clarity and reduce background noise, particularly while listening from a distance.
03

Telephone Amplifiers

They enhance telephonic conversations and provide captions to improve speech understanding, especially for new hearing aid users.

The first time you wear your hearing aids, expect some discomfort in the initial days. It happens when you start your hearing loss treatment after a long time of living with unattended hearing loss. Your brain will take some time to get used to this new world of sounds, which is why every sound suddenly feels loud or awkward.

For example, you might start hearing the sounds of nature, like birds chirping, leaves rustling, wind blowing, kids playing, etc. You have been missing out on these everyday sounds and little joys of life all this while. But hearing aids will help regain your quality of life and mental well-being.

Get the Most Out of Your Hearing Aids

Hearing aids can offer a life-changing experience. You will no longer need to isolate yourself in social settings or miss out on the simple joys of life.

We will guide you on how to put on, adjust, and maintain your hearing aids. So, enjoy the new world of listening and communicating with your peers confidently.

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Getting Started

The first steps are always challenging, but with the right guidance, you can get it right. The goal is to get comfortable with your aids and troubleshoot common issues for effective communication.

01

Getting Comfortable

Start slowly by wearing your aids for a few hours and in a quiet setting, and practice insertion/removal in front of the mirror.
02

Battery and Charging

Keep spare batteries to ensure a seamless listening experience. For rechargeable models, charge them at night.
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Seek Professional Help

Consult a qualified audiologist for fine-tuning and troubleshooting common issues, like feedback, persistent discomfort, etc.

Hearing loss occurs gradually and, therefore, it often goes unnoticed in the initial stages, until it is too late. It’s a common belief that hearing loss is a normal part of ageing, but the truth is, it can affect people of all ages. Therefore, early intervention is crucial as it helps preserve your natural hearing abilities by identifying hearing problems at an early stage. Early intervention and detection of hearing loss, followed by prompt treatment, helps restore your natural hearing or control progressive hearing loss.

Why Early Treatment Matters

Untreated hearing loss may impact your daily conversations, social interactions, relationships, speech and language development delays in children, professional life, cognitive health, and quality of life. Getting the right treatment and wearing hearing devices will boost emotional well-being, cognitive function, and social engagement.

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Early Treatments for Hearing Loss

Early treatment programs for adults can help them connect with their friends, family, colleagues, and others. In children, it can help them promote effective speech and language development.

01

Hearing Aids

Choose from a range of hearing aid styles, discreet designs, sizes, custom-fits, and technological features.
02

Assistive Listening Devices

If you need to attend noisy environments, use ALDS, like FM systems, personal amplifiers, etc., to improve speech clarity.
03

Speech and Auditory Therapy

Therapy encourages the brain to process sounds more effectively, especially after living with untreated hearing loss for too long.

Tinnitus is the perception of temporary or persistent ringing, hissing, or buzzing in the ears, even when no external sounds are present. It is more of a symptom of an underlying condition or ear infection, and not a disease in itself. Tinnitus sounds may vary in loudness and pitch, and may be intermittent or constant. We have experienced tinnitus at some point, such as after attending a loud concert or after having a head or neck injury.

Common Causes and Prevention

Tinnitus may occur due to age-related hearing loss, earwax buildup, exposure to loud noises, neck or head injuries, middle or inner ear infections, stress, anxiety, and certain medications.

Tinnitus is preventable in many cases, such as by using hearing protection, limiting noise exposure, managing stress, eating a balanced diet, and getting regular hearing checkups.

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Tinnitus Treatment Options

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Sound Therapy

Sound therapy solutions like hearing aids, sound masking devices, assistive listening devices, and noise machines can help manage tinnitus.
02

Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) combine sound therapy and counselling to cope with its psychological and emotional impacts.
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Lifestyle Adjustments

Managing stress by practising yoga and meditation, distancing yourself from loud noises, and limiting alcohol and caffeine can alleviate tinnitus symptoms.
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Capabilities

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Our Procedures

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Allergy

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Nasal / Sinus

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Sinus Problems

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Screening Plans

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Team Member

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Rup Pal
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