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Written By: Editorial Team | Updated : July 4, 2014 5:18 PM IST
Neeti Kailas, a Bangalore-based entrepreneur, director and co-founder of Sohum Innovation Lab, developed a non-invasive, portable device that effectively detects hearing loss in infants. This mass screening tool is an innovation having the potential to prevent disabilities of speech, language and cognition in children that pose difficulty later in life. The tool has bagged the 2014 Rolex Award for Enterprise.
Kailas said that the goal of the device is 'to prevent late detection of hearing loss.' The device is powered by battery and works on the basis of measuring auditory brain-stem response (ABR). It taps into ongoing electrical activity inside the brain (when stimulated) with the help of electrodes placed on the scalp, explained the 29-year-old, who founded the company with engineer husband Nitin Sisodia.
'It is like a headband which can be strapped on to the baby's head and it reads responses from the brain's auditory system when stimulated. If the brain doesn't respond to these stimuli, then the child can't hear. It is non-invasive and safe to use,' Kailas told IANS over the phone from Bangalore. (Read: Hearing loss can have a deep impact on an elder person's personality)
'If we can get to know (of the affliction) within the first six months after birth, then speech loss can be prevented by addressing the issue early,' she said. According to Kailas, what sets the innovation apart is that the testing system suits Indian hospitals and clinics - places that are usually noisy. It incorporates a programme which filters out background noises. 'The products available in the Indian market are manufactured abroad and therefore are not designed to filter out the background noises. The new testing system incorporates our patented, in-built algorithm that filters out ambient noise from the test signal,' she said. (Read: How hearing loss can affect your brain)
And because it's indigenous, its cheaper than the other hearing-loss detecting devices available in the market. 'Other ABR-centric tools available in India are not indigenous products and therefore range from $10,000-$29,OOO. Our design would be one-fifth the cost of the foreign ones,' she said. To facilitate a wide reach in rural areas, its user-friendly design can be handled with ease by minimally skilled public health workers.
'It is designed in a simple manner to enable ease of use by public health workers and doctors in resource deficient settings, particularly in rural areas, Kailas added.
Though the device is in the prototype stage, the prize money - 50,000 Swiss francs/ Rs.33.6 lakh) will help Kailas to propel the venture to the clinical trials stage by the end of the year. For that, the young entrepreneur has partnered with New Delhi's AIIMS and Bangalore's St. John's Medical College and Hospital to begin with. Kailas hopes it can be marketed by 2016. According to A. Ramesh, an ENT specialist at St. John's, the system needs to be run through trials to fine-tune it for launch. 'It is a fantastic device to detect hearing loss in babies. It needs to be field-tested to fine-tune it,' Ramesh told IANS over the phone from Bangalore.
Here are some facts about hearing loss or deafness
Chronic ear infections are a leading cause of hearing loss: The global prevalence of chronic otitis media (COM) ranges from 1 to 46% in developed and developing countries. COM leads to hearing loss and can cause life-threatening complications and mortality. The most astonishing thing is that COM is largely preventable. It can be managed effectively through medical and surgical means.
Noise is a major cause of hearing loss, it is also a very easily avoidable: Noise is a cause for concern in both, developed and developing countries. In many countries, excessive noise has become the most compensated occupational hazard. The risk of social noise, such as, music and entertainment devices, is increasing globally among young people.
Hearing loss can be due to the use of ototoxic medications: Some commonly used medications (such as aminoglycosides, anti-malarial drugs) can lead to irreversible hearing loss. Ototoxicity can be prevented through awareness amongst health-care providers and rational use of drugs.
Many children are born with hearing defects: Approximately 0.5-5 of every 1000 infants are born with or develop in early childhood disabling hearing loss. Early detection and management is important in providing appropriate support for deaf and hearing-impaired babies that will help them enjoy equal opportunities in society.
Nearly one out of every three persons over 65 are affected by hearing loss: Left untreated hearing loss affects communication and can contribute to social isolation, anxiety, depression and cognitive decline. Age-related hearing loss can be managed effectively through a variety of means, including hearing aids. Read more about Hearing loss or deafness: 7 facts you ought to know
With inputs from IANS
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