All India Institute of Speech and Hearing develops user-friendly Android App 

DOWNLOAD AHS APP: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aiish.app

By Mohan Kayaka

Mysore/Mysuru: City-based All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH) that has achieved many milestones and excellences in the field of communication disorders and an institute that has conducted exemplary research in the field of communication has achieved another distinction by developing an Android-based mobile App for hearing screening. 

This is an end-to App where people can screen themselves to test their hearing abilities and also to get it rectified by visiting the nearest speech centre to his/her location and these details too are provided in the App. 

Hearing is essential for effective communication and any impairment can cause disruption in communication as well as can have an impact on academic achievements, workplace, emotional and psychological areas. 

Hearing loss can progress over time based on the nature of hearing loss. Certain causes that are associated with progressive hearing loss include aging, continued noise exposure without hearing protection, neglected ear infections, etc. 

Hence, early detection of hearing loss is vital for effective intervention. Everyone should check their hearing to make sure that hearing loss is detected early. The Android-based mobile App helps people in  hearing screening. 

The onset of hearing loss is sudden and can occur in one of both the ears. Immediate steps have to be taken to manage as certain types of sudden hearing loss are reversible if immediate treatment is not followed. 

Whoever wishes to know if their hearing is normal or not, can use the AIISH Hearing Screening (AHS) App which is freely downloadable from the Google Playstore. It takes less than 5 minutes to administer and can be used by those who are eight years old and above. 

The App can be self-administered by users of Hindi, Kannada and English languages where earphones can be connected to the mobile phone for the administration of this App in order to screen each ear separately. The App has been developed by a team comprising Dr. P. Manjula, Dr. B. Jithin Raj, B. Nagaraju and S. Prashanth. 

 How the App works 

The AHS App presents a set of words (one after the other) in the presence of background noise to each ear. The user will have to identify the word by pointing / touching the correct picture (from four options) on the mobile screen.  After completing the screening test, the result will be displayed as either ‘PASS’ or ‘REFER’ to nearby  audiological centres. 

That is, in case a hearing loss is detected, the user will be informed regarding the need for further evaluation at the nearby audiological centres to seek further help in these centres.  

This App is an apt tool for knowing the status of hearing since all people cannot reach the centre with a facility for testing (because of distance and cost involved). A preliminary screening can be made using this App which will identify those with a hearing problem and refer them to nearby audiological centres for further help. 

For its pioneering work and research in the field of speech and communication, AIISH has bagged the Certificate of Membership of World Hearing Forum coming under World Health Organisation this year, standing tall among a handful of Indian Institutions which have earned this prestigious membership. 

User-friendly, says Director

Speaking to Star of Mysore, AIISH Director Dr. M. Pushpavathi said that the AHS App has been developed in a user-friendly manner and is easy to use. “In case a person has hearing issues, the App even identifies the recognised and validated place where he/she can get her ears tested and find a solution to the hearing issue,” she said.  

“We encourage all to use the App to detect hearing loss and take necessary action. Further in the App, a provision has been made for the link to be shared with others and also has a link to the AIISH YouTube and Facebook pages where the user can avail detailed information regarding AIISH and the services provided,” she added.