Doc Jijina's ENT

16/10/2024

What are "hearables" ?

A hearable is a smart, wireless in-ear device that combines the functionalities of hearing aids, headphones, and health-monitoring tools. They are designed to do more than just play audio; hearables offer a range of features that enhance hearing, monitor health, and interact with other smart devices.

Key features of hearables include:

1. Sound Amplification and Enhancement: Like hearing aids, hearables can amplify sounds, helping individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss. They may also filter noise to make conversations clearer.

2. Wireless Connectivity: Hearables connect via Bluetooth to smartphones, computers, and other devices, allowing hands-free calls, music streaming, and access to virtual assistants like Siri or Google Assistant.

3. Health Monitoring: Many hearables come with sensors that track vital signs such as heart rate, body temperature, and oxygen levels. Some even monitor environmental noise exposure to protect hearing health.

4. Noise Cancellation: Active noise cancellation (ANC) technology is often built in, allowing users to block out unwanted background sounds in noisy environments.

5. Fitness Features: Similar to fitness trackers, some hearables offer fitness tracking, such as step counting and workout monitoring, which can provide real-time feedback during exercise.

Overall, hearables are an evolution of traditional audio devices, combining hearing assistance, health tracking, and smart technology into one compact, wearable form.

16/10/2024

Hearables - The evolution of hearing devices...
Hearables, or smart in-ear devices, serve multiple purposes, offering both health and convenience benefits. Here are some key reasons to use them:

1. Hearing Assistance: Hearables can amplify sound for individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss, functioning like hearing aids. Some models offer real-time noise cancellation or sound filtering, making conversations and ambient sounds clearer.

2. Health Monitoring: Many hearables have sensors to track vital signs, including heart rate, oxygen levels, and even body temperature. These features can provide health data without the need for additional devices.

3. Noise Reduction and Protection: Active noise cancellation (ANC) hearables help reduce unwanted background noise, which is beneficial in noisy environments or during travel. They can also offer hearing protection in loud environments.

4. Communication: Hearables allow hands-free communication, ideal for professionals on the go. They're integrated with voice assistants like Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant for seamless interaction.

5. Entertainment and Productivity: They offer high-quality audio for listening to music, podcasts, or audiobooks. Some models include translation features or speech enhancement to improve conversations in noisy spaces.

6. Fitness Tracking: Advanced models provide fitness tracking features, like step counting and workout monitoring, which can be useful during exercise routines.

The versatility of hearables makes them valuable in everyday life, blending technology, health, and communication.

16/10/2024

Application of AI in hearing technology

The application of AI in hearing technology is revolutionizing the field, enhancing the capabilities of hearing aids and other auditory devices. Among the key areas where AI is making a significant impact are:

1. Noise Reduction and Speech Enhancement: AI algorithms can differentiate between speech and background noise, allowing hearing aids to suppress unwanted sounds and focus on enhancing speech clarity. This makes it easier for users to understand conversations in noisy environments.

2. Adaptive Learning: Modern AI-driven hearing aids can learn and adapt to the user's preferences and listening environments. These devices use machine learning to remember and automatically adjust settings based on the user's behavior and context, providing a personalized listening experience.

3. Real-Time Sound Processing: AI enables real-time processing of sounds, which significantly improves the reaction time of hearing aids. This real-time processing helps in better sound localization and dynamic adjustment to changing soundscapes.

4. Health Monitoring: Some advanced hearing aids equipped with AI can monitor vital signs, detect falls, and even provide alerts for potential health issues. This integration of health monitoring with auditory technology adds an extra layer of safety and wellness for users.

5. Enhanced Connectivity: AI enhances the connectivity of hearing aids with other smart devices. Through AI, hearing aids can seamlessly connect with smartphones, televisions, and other devices, providing a comprehensive auditory experience that integrates with the user's digital lifestyle.

6. Speech Recognition and Translation: AI-powered hearing aids can incorporate speech recognition and real-time translation features, assisting users in understanding different languages and improving communication in multilingual environments.

7. Data Analytics: AI facilitates the collection and analysis of auditory data, helping audiologists to better understand hearing loss patterns and customize treatment plans. This data-driven approach enhances the overall effectiveness of hearing care.

The integration of AI in hearing technology is still evolving, promising further advancements that will continue to improve the quality of life for individuals with hearing impairments.

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view the guide.

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01/11/2017

TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT (TMJ) DISORDERS

TMJ disorders are problems which affect the jaw joint.
The jaw joint or temporomandibular joint is located just in front of the ear, and it joins the jaw bone to the skull Problems affecting this joint are usually known as TMJ disorders and are fairly common.

What are the symptoms of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders?

• Pain in and around the joint area, usually just in front of the ear or involving the cheek, ear, and/ or the temple on the same side.
• Difficulty in opening the mouth , stiffness on jaw movement, or rarely the jaw may even get locked in one position resulting in inability to open or close the mouth.
• Sometimes, the pain and restriction in jaw movement may be accompanied by clicking sounds while chewing or when opening/closing the mouth.
• Pain which appears to come from deep inside the ear, heightened sensitivity to sound, a noise in the ear or even dizziness due to the close proximity of the ear to the joint.

CAUSES

They could be due to
• Problems linked to the muscles working the joint., esp in the younger age group
• Problems inside the joint itself.

Problems with the muscles may be caused by:

• Tension of the jaw muscles.

• Overuse of the jaw muscles, such as habitually chewing gum, or biting nails.

• Rarely, other conditions make the jaw muscles overactive which result in excessive clenching of the jaw


Problems in the joint occur more in the older age group and may be caused by:

• Wear and tear to the inside of the joint due to osteoarthritis. This problem tends to affect older rather than younger people.

• Certain other types of arthritis. - rheumatoid arthritis

• Injury to the TMJ or to its cartilage disc

DIAGNOSIS

The Diagnosis is based on the individual patient’s symptoms and examination. No tests are necessary in majority of cases

MANAGEMENT

Most problems in the jaw joint can be helped with simple treatments such as painkillers and advice on how to rest the joint. There are various treatments which are often used in combination:

Resting the jaw joint

• soft food ,no chewing gum.
• avoid opening the mouth very wide
• gentle massage over the area.
• Hot fomentation

Other treatment

Stress-reducing therapies - presumably because people tend to clench their jaw when they are stressed, or because stress makes pain worse.
Use of “bite plates” at night to reduce clenching of the jaw may be helpful in some individuals

Medication

Painkillers such as paracetamol, ibuprofen with or without muscle relaxants or a small dose of a medicine called a tricyclic antidepressant can give added pain relief.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy treatments, such as ultrasound and gentle jaw exercises, can be helpful.

Exercises for jaw pain:

• Before you start, warm the jaw area with a hot water bottle or a heating pad, to ease muscle stiffness
• Place your fingers on the front of your chin and try to move the lower jaw forward against the resistance of your fingers. Hold this position for a few seconds, then relax. Repeat three times.
• Place your fingers under your chin and try to open your jaw against resistance. Hold this position for a few seconds, then relax. Repeat three times.
• Place your fingers on one side of your lower jaw and try to move your lower jaw sideways against the resistance of your fingers. Hold this position for a few seconds, then relax. Repeat three times. Then do the same on the other side.
• Place your fingers over the jaw joint and gently open your mouth as far as you can. Take care that your jaw opens straight and not to one side.You can repeat these exercises several times a day until the symptoms ease.

Treatment of other conditions like Arthritis is necessary.

Injection of Steroids in the joint in case of inflammation, surgical procedures on the joint via arthroscopy, kinesio taping and acupuncture are other treatment modalities.

LONG TERM OUTLOOK
With proper management, outlook is good, most symptoms improve with time, complications are rare, though symptoms do last a bit longer or recur in some individuals.
Most people do not need injections or surgery and will get better with simple treatments and time.