Mysuru: The All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH) has come out with two apps-one to check ringing ears called “TINNITUS APP” and the other one is for speech sound error therapy called “ASSET.”
TINNITUS APP
Tinnitus is the sensation of hearing ringing, buzzing, hissing, chipping, whistling or any other sound when there is no such sound in the environment. There are several treatment and management options available. However, prior to recommending or beginning any treatment for tinnitus, there is a need to test the perceived symptoms. The assessment of tinnitus involves comprehensive case history (hearing evaluation) like tinnitus pitch matching and tinnitus loudness matching. A professional can also include additional audiological test for diagnosis and counselling of individual with tinnitus.
Currently, there are many apps available for tinnitus assessment and few for management. However not all the apps are compatible with all operating systems. Some of the apps require additional devices along with smart phones, which limit their use. There is no one comprehensive app meant for assessment of different aspects of tinnitus and its management. Hence a simple and quick means of measuring tinnitus was developed which can overcome all the above limitations. The developed smartphone or the i-phone tinnitus app can be used to assess the sound what is being perceived by an individual and provide realistic expectations from sound therapy.
Speech Sound Error Therapy App
App Speech Sound Error Therapy (ASSET) is windows based software developed in Malayalam language. It is based on the principles of minimal pair therapy. It uses minimal pairs as stimulus, to manage children with speech, sound disorders. The app is developed for speech language pathologists, parents and caregivers to train the children with speech sound disorders resulting from phonological disorder, misarticulation, hearing impairment, intellectual disability, cleft lip and palate issues.
