FAQ

WISH Speech & Hearing Center

HEARING LOSS


Ear infection, genetic factor, lack of oxygen at the time of birth, low birth weight, meningitis, measles, chicken pox, mumps, etc.
Impacted wax, ear infection, aging factors, intake of ototoxicmedicine, loud sound exposure, trauma to ear as well as other causes.
Hearing tests provide information about the sensitivity of an individual’s hearing across speech sounds. The test will measure the softest sound that can be heard in a sound proof room. These tests are performed by an audiologist who specializes in hearing, using different instruments depending on the age of the patients.
According to WHO (2018) data, 63 million people suffer from significant detectable level of hearing loss in India.
About 2 to 3 out of every 1,000 children are born with a detectable level of hearing loss.
Hearing loss is also common among the elderly population, especially affecting 1 in every 3 peopleover the age of 65 years.
Usually, friends and family members notice the hearing problem first. Following are some of the common signs noticed
  • Difficulty understanding speech, especially against backward noise
  • Frequently asking for repetition
  • Need to increase the volume of the television/music system/mobile phone
  • Avoids social gathering orexperiencing feelings of isolation
Hearing loss can be one of three types.
A. Conductive (Involves outer or middle ear) e.g., excessive wax, ear infection, etc.
B. Sensory neural (Involves inner ear) e.g., age related hearing loss, loud sound exposure, hearing loss at birth, etc.
C. Mixed (Combination of the two).
It is the feeling of ringing or buzzing sound in one ear or both ears and often associated with hearing loss, commonly affecting older adults.
Common causes of tinnitus are due to factors like hearing loss, ear infection, Meniere’s disease, drugs or due to any disease of the heart/blood vessels.
Treatment for tinnitus depends on whether it is caused by an underlying health condition. Audiological management of tinnitus includes use of tinnitus maskers, use of hearing aids if tinnitus is caused due to age related hearing loss in addition to Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT).

HEARING AIDS


1. Rule out any correctable cause of hearing loss such as ear wax or an infection
2. Get your hearing tested by a hearing specialist (Audiologist) in a sound treated hearing testing room where the audiologist will assess your hearing and assist you to choose and meet your needs
3. Ask about a hearing aid trial period, which may take you a while to get used to the device and decide if it’s right for you
4. Check the warranty period and maintenance cost
5. Plan for the expense
Different styles/ type of hearing aids available are as below:
1. Behind the ear (BTE)
2. Receiver in the canal (RIC)
3. In the ear (ITE)
4. In the canal (ITC)
5. Completely in the canal (CIC)
6. Invisible in the canal (IIC)
Your audiologist can help you make an appropriate choice based on your degree & type of hearing loss and any special features you may need based on your lifestyle and preferences.
Exact prices are difficult to quote as there are about 500 different models of hearing aids available in India. At the moment, prices range from Rs. 8,000 for basic devices to Rs 5,00,000 for a premium hearing aid device. However, which one is best for you depends upon many factors like your hearing loss, individual needs, lifestyle etc.
Most audiology centers deal with multiple brands; some companies provide unique products with more advanced technology or special items. Our audiologist (Hearing health specialist) with assist you to select which technology is suitable for your based on individual needs and preferences.
Using hearing aids can’t restore normal hearing. It can improve your hearing by amplifying soft sounds. So that a person with hearing loss can hear, communicate and participate in daily activities.
It usually takes anywhere within 2 weeks and up to 2 months for an individual to get adapted to their hearing aids. But each person’s experience will be different. It is recommended to visit your audiologist post your first visit within three weeks. Based on your experience, the hearing aid can be fine-tuned for you to hear better in real life situations.
Two hearing aids are always better than one hearing aid for better speech understanding in any noisy situation. It will also improve ability to localize sounds.
This depends upon the type of hearing aids and type of battery and how many hours per day you wear your hearing aid. Smaller batteries need replacing within one week, while larger batteries may last for two to three weeks.
The life of a hearing aid is about three to five years however it also depends on factors such as its wear and tear, maintenance etc. Many hearing aids still function well beyond five years while others may require programming or service repairs.
If you want your child to develop speech and language skills, he/she would need to have consistent exposure to sound and hence recommended to wear the hearing aids at all times.
Behind-the-ear hearing aids are the best hearing aids for young children. Depending on your child’s hearing loss, it may be appropriate to change hearing aids styles when your child becomes a teenager.
A hearing aid is a device that amplifies sounds and is worn in the ear.
A cochlear implant is a device that amplifies an electrical signal and is implanted in the cochlea (inner ear) by a surgical procedure.
Cochlear implant is considered in those circumstances where even the most powerful hearing aid provides limited or no benefit at all to the patient.

SPEECH THERAPY


A general rule of thumb about children’s speech and language development is that most children use single words at age one year, two-word combinations at age two years, and three-word phrases at age three years. There can be a number of reasons why children don’t talk as peers.If your child shows any signs or symptoms, which you feel is not normal, then it is highly recommended to seek professional support from a Speech-Language Pathologist (Speech therapist).
In children early intervention is critical during the age of speech-language development which is before 3 years of age, hence it is recommended to undergo therapy during this critical age. The exact age, however for speech-language therapy differs based on the type of speech-language problems/disorder of the child.
This purely depends upon the speech – language needs of the child. The frequency and duration of the therapy is usually determined at the evaluation. Depending on the severity of the condition, he or she may attend at least twice or thrice weekly for approx. 30 – 40 minute session. Therapy may be increased according to the requirement.
Sessions are usually scheduled for 40 minutes of direct contact or online teletherapy of which 5 minutes are spent for counseling the child’s parents.
The duration of the therapy program cannot be determined in advance. Children may show immediate improvement or it may be gradual. The degree and pattern of improvement differs for every child. Progress is evaluated at every interval of 3 Months and continued until desired progress is attained.
Yes, for the success of the child’s therapy, it is highly recommended for parents to participate during the therapy sessions with the child. Parent participation may include: in-room/online therapy participation, out of room observation (through glass door observation rooms) and completion of home activities.
Yes, Speech and Language therapy services are also provided for adult cases where they find difficulty in communication due to various medical conditions such as stroke, brain injury etc.
Yes, we offer online therapy sessions for child/adults.

PSYCHOTHERAPY


Psychotherapy can last from some sessions to several months. It all depends on the diagnosis and the severity of the problem.
We provide each session of 40 to 45 minutes, including parent management training.
Yes, we offer online consultations and psychotherapy.
Our therapists are not psychiatrists and hence do not prescribe medicines.
+91 9287 444 777
Links
Main Center

Third Floor, AKS Tower,
Puthiyara, Kozhikode
Kozhikode Dist., Kerala- 673004

+91 9287 444 777
+91 495 2961 064

wishclinics@gmail.com
Other Centers

First Floor, Chatheri Corner,
Kuttipuram Road, Thazhepalam, Tirur,
Malappuram Dist., Kerala- 676101

+91 7736 050 605
+91 8891 918 080
 

First Floor, TK Complex,
Kovoor, Chevayoor
Kozhikode Dist, Kerala - 673017

+91 9633 520 420

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