Artificial Intelligence-(AI) enabled hearing devices can revolutionise solutions for people living with hearing impairment, said experts here on World Hearing Day on Sunday.
World Hearing Day is observed every year on March 3 to raise
awareness about hearing impairments as well to fight social stigmas.
About 430 million people worldwide suffer from hearing loss, as
per estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO).
While currently, one in four people over 60 are impacted by
hearing loss, by 2050, it could impact one in ten people, including millions of
children and young adults.
“Now, the world is becoming more and more dependent on hearing
aids. The ear plays an important role in amplifying sound and converting sound
into neural pulses. But those pulses are sent to the brain, which is where
AI-enabled advanced hearing aids help,” Dr. Aparna Gupta, Associate Director,
Neurology, Indian Spinal Injuries Centre (ISIC), New Delhi, told IANS.
Dr. Virendra Singh, Senior Consultant, ENT, Sri Balaji Action
Medical Institute, New Delhi said that they take up surgery as one of the
options, but with some limitations, advanced AI-based hearing aids are breaking
sound barriers these days.
“Hearing aids stand as a beacon of hope. Through coordinated
efforts between ENT specialists, audiologists, the hearing aid industry, and
governmental support, we can ensure that no one is left in silence. Advanced
devices can bridge the gap between silence and symphony,” added Dr. Singh.
India is also confronted with a formidable challenge as hearing
loss impacts millions of people spanning various age brackets. The WHO reports
that roughly 63 million individuals in India grapple with notable auditory
deficiencies, emphasising the critical requirement for viable remedies and
disruptions.
As India's elderly populace is forecasted to double by 2050,
surpassing the number of children who are also these days prone to hearing
loss, the incidence of hearing impairments is anticipated to escalate,
accentuating the necessity for preemptive actions to tackle this urgent health
concern.
Dr. Aparna noted that hearing is also crucial to a person’s health
and well-being.
“When you live with hearing loss, the brain uses sound
dysfunctions and neurons tend to die out if you're not sending the signals.
Hence, it is important to understand what's going on in the brains of
hearing-impaired patients. Moreover, a growing body of research and assessments
is revealing the connection between early-stage Alzheimer's, stroke,
depression, and auditory well-being,” she explained.
Despite millions grappling with hearing loss worldwide, the
adoption rate for hearing aids remains surprisingly low, barely surpassing 10
per cent. This is majorly due to high cost devices as well as social stigma,
said the experts.
“While issues such as access and affordability undoubtedly factor
into this equation, stigma also plays a significant role in perpetuating this
disparity. Many people associate hearing aids with outdated stereotypes,
mistakenly believing they are exclusively for the elderly or those with
disabilities,” said Brandon Sawalich, President and CEO of Starkey, a global
hearing technology company.
He said that however, today’s technology has transformed hearing
aids, enhancing people’s lives and improving their hearing.
The introduction of AI-enabled hearing aids thus marks a
significant stride in tackling hearing impairment. These cutting-edge devices
provide unmatched sound clarity, health monitoring features, and a tailored
user interface, heralding a new era in hearing aid technology.
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