FAQ - Spectra Plus

FAQ



Hearing



  • What are the most common causes of hearing loss?
  • Is hearing loss hereditary?
  • Is there any possibility of hearing loss in infants?
  • How can I restore my hearing? Is there anything I can do to protect my hearing?
  • How often should I get my hearing tested?
  • How do I know if I need a hearing aid?
  • Will a hearing aid restore my hearing to normal?
  • How long will my hearing aid last?
  • What style of hearing aid should I wear?
  • What type of hearing changes commonly occur in older adults?
  • Is there any diagnosis available for hearing loss at Spectra Plus?
What are the most common causes of hearing loss?

Hearing loss can occur due to several common reasons – birth defects, infections, exposure to excessive noise, aging, genetics, and reaction to drugs or cancer treatment.

Is hearing loss hereditary?

Some types of hearing loss can be hereditary. But not all hereditarily caused hearing loss appear early in life, they can appear later in life.

Is there any possibility of hearing loss in infants?

Yes, hearing loss can be found even amongst infants. When babies are born with hearing loss, it’s called congenital hearing loss. Hearing loss also can develop later in babies or during childhood or adulthood. Newborn babies have the best chance of hearing if their hearing loss is identified before the baby is 2 months old. The earlier a child gets hearing aids, the better.

How can I restore my hearing? Is there anything I can do to protect my hearing?

Hearing loss can’t be restored as it is permanent. To prevent further hearing loss you can protect the hearing by taking precautions. Avoid exposure to loud music, loud noises in the background. Limit the use of electronic devices that can directly affect your hearing.

How often should I get my hearing tested?

People who have noticeably no hearing problems should visit once in a while. Newborn Screening is recommended for newborns in the first 3 months of their lives. People above the age of 50 should get hearing screening annually. Early detection is helpful as it keeps all the treatment options open.

How do I know if I need a hearing aid?

If you experience trouble in hearing, people have to repeat everything they say to you, this might be the first sign of hearing loss. You should visit an audiologist, he can examine and determine your hearing loss.

Will a hearing aid restore my hearing to normal?

Hearing aids at Spectra Plus improve your hearing, they can’t restore the natural functioning of your ear. Whereas there is no permanent solution to it, these aids make it easier for you to hear better.

How long will my hearing aid last?

The life expectancy of a Hearing Aid is about five to six years, after which it may require a tune-up or repairs. The high-quality hearing aids at Spectra Plus, designed with experience & expertise can function well even after six years.

What style of hearing aid should I wear?

This depends on various factors like the degree of hearing loss, type of hearing aid that might fit, the shape of your outer ear, the shape of your ear canal, your ability to place and adjust the device. Spectra Plus renders a team of experts to ensure complete quality assurance, transparency, and accurate diagnosis along with recommending the right fit for you.

What type of hearing changes commonly occur in older adults?

Tinnitus is the most common hearing change that occurs in older adults. It is the ringing or buzzing sound in the ear that isn’t caused by external noise. By audiologists, it can be treated by Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT).

Is there any diagnosis available for hearing loss at Spectra Plus?

At Spectra Plus we offer several diagnostic tests such as Brainstem Evoked Response Audiometry, Auditory Steady-State Response, OAE: Oto-Acoustic Emissions. All these examinations are executed under professional guidance and modern facilities such as sound-proof rooms and labs.



Speech and Occupational
Therapy



  • What is a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP)?
  • Which type of treatment involves Speech Therapy and how long will it last?
  • What types of conditions can be treated at Speech and Language Therapy?
  • My child is not yet talking. Is he a late talker or does he need help?
  • Will my child’s communication skills improve naturally when they start school?
  • My child is 2 and I can’t understand everything he says. Should we be getting speech therapy?
  • At what age can treatment be done?
  • What is dysphagia?
  • What are the common signs and symptoms of a swallowing problem?
What is a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP)?

A Speech-Language Pathologist is a therapist who works with people of all ages having communication and swallowing related disorders or conditions, which includes:

  • Speech sounds
  • Literacy
  • Social communication
  • Voice
  • Fluency
  • Cognitive communication
  • Feeding and swallowing
Which type of treatment involves Speech Therapy and how long will it last?

The type and the duration of treatment depends on the patient’s severity of the condition. At Spectra Plus our Speech-Language Pathologists offer customized treatment plans for each client, which will focus on their specific needs and abilities.

What types of conditions can be treated at Speech and Language Therapy?

At speech and language therapy a variety of conditions are addressed and treated that cause speech, language, communication, and swallowing difficulties. Common conditions or problems we treat include:

  • Neurological conditions e.g. stroke
  • Autism Spectrum disorder
  • Learning difficulties
  • Hearing loss and impairment
  • Voice problems
  • Speech disorder
  • Eating drinking and swallowing difficulties
  • Communication problems
My child is not yet talking. Is he a late talker or does he need help?

In general, children at the age of 1 start using a single word, two-combination words at the age of 2, and three-word phrases at age 3. There can be several reasons why children don’t talk. Some of these reasons might be related to problems with hearing, muscle coordination, learning behavior, or experience. The assessment conducted by a speech-language pathologist will help you to understand if your child needs a professional or not.

Will my child’s communication skills improve naturally when they start school?

In school, a child is exposed to a lot of new words and instructions, and if your child is having difficulties with talking and understanding before he/she starts school, then it is likely that he/she will have difficulties in school. A Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) can help in improving the talking and understanding skills of your child.

My child is 2 and I can’t understand everything he says. Should we be getting speech therapy?

Speech sound acquisition is developmental. That means that some sounds emerge early and other sounds are not fully developed until age 5 or 6. At age 2, we should be able to understand about 50 percent of what a child says. By age 3, we should be able to understand between 70 and 90 percent of what he says. Some of the last sounds to emerge are the “r,” th” and the “s” sounds.

At what age can treatment be done?

Our centers treat people of all ages, from infants to adults.

What is dysphagia?

Dysphagia refers to the difficulty in swallowing. It takes more effort than normal to move food from mouth to stomach. It can be caused by muscle or nerve problems. It is most common in older adults and babies. This painful disorder can be treated with the help of Swallowing Therapy.

What are the common signs and symptoms of a swallowing problem?

People choke during a meal, under normal circumstances. But the swallowing problem has more symptoms and common signs, one should get themself checked if these symptoms appear frequently-

  • Frequent choking on food
  • Hesitancy in food passage for more than a few seconds
  • Pain when swallowing
  • Recurring pneumonia


Voice
Therapy



  • What are some common indications that I may have a voice problem?
  • When should I seek attention to the voice problem?
  • Does smoking affect my voice?
  • Are there treatments for paralyzed vocal cords?
  • What is Dysphonia?
  • What are the Causes of Dysphonia?
  • What are the Treatments for Dysphonia?
  • What is an articulation disorder?
  • What kind of exercises does voice therapy involve?
  • What are Singer’s nodes?
What are some common indications that I may have a voice problem?

A person who experiences the following symptoms can have a voice problem

  • Hoarseness
  • Dryness
  • Pitch problems
  • Shortness of breath
  • Inability to sing softly
  • Breaks in the voice
  • Pain when using voice
When should I seek attention to the voice problem?

If you experience voice change or hoarseness that remains persistent for more than 7 to 15 days, or difficulty in swallowing or breathing, you should immediately contact a doctor.

Does smoking affect my voice?

Yes, smoking or exposure to cigarettes does affect your voice. It dries up the lining of the voice box and thereby decreases voice quality, increasing the need to clear your throat and promoting reflux laryngitis.

Are there treatments for paralyzed vocal cords?

Yes, there are a few treatments for the paralyzed vocal cord that often result in restoring near-normal speaking voice quality. Voice therapy is the most common treatment of it, therapy helps to maximize the voice and compensate for the immobile vocal cords. Surgery is another method of treatment.

What is Dysphonia?

Dysphonia refers to having an abnormal voice, also known as hoarseness. Change in the voice can occur suddenly or gradually over time. The voice can be described as hoarse, rough, raspy, strained, weak, breathy, or gravely. Spectra Plus facilitates the patients with labs specially designed for Acoustic Analysis – Computerised Voice Assessment to identify the cause, symptoms, and impact of the voice disorders.

What are the Causes of Dysphonia?

There are numerous causes of dysphonia that can be caused by numerous reasons:

  • Vocal Cord Inflammation like- Laryngitis, Allergy and Laryngopharyngeal reflux
  • Growths on the vocal cord-like- Nodules, Cysts, Polyps, and Papilloma.
  • Scarring of the vocal cord from trauma/injury or from surgery.
  • Vocal cord paralysis because of the weak vocal cord or develop weakness with the movement of the vocal cords from a nerve injury
What are the Treatments for Dysphonia?

Most of the voice disorders can be treated with the help of Voice Therapy by a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist that focuses on care for voice problems. At Spectra Plus, our comprehensive diagnostic will ensure the best Voice Therapies to maintain the uncontrolled pitch and loudness of your voice.

What is an articulation disorder?

Articulation Disorder involves difficulties in articulating some specific types of sounds correctly. Articulation disorders often involve the substitution of one sound for another, slurring of speech, or indistinct speech. Most of the children with this disorder have typically mild-to-moderate deficits in speech.

What kind of exercises does voice therapy involve?

Voice therapy exercises include:

  • Postural adjustments
  • Breathing
  • Specific neck and throat relaxation exercises
  • Exercises to mobilize the muscles of the lips, tongue, and jaw
  • Resonant voice

To establish the necessary behavioral changes for correcting your voice disorder, you will need to attend voice therapy sessions once a week for the first few weeks of treatment.

What are Singer’s nodes?

Singer’s nodes, or vocal nodules, are small calluses on the vocal cords. It can occur in both boys and girls, but predominantly in women.
Nodules come from abuse to the vocal cords associated with:

  • Yelling
  • Screaming
  • An unnatural pitch or singing style

Vocal nodules can be treated easily and successfully with voice therapy.



Vertigo



  • What are the common causes of vertigo?
  • What causes BPPV?
  • Can vertigo be treated?
  • Where should I go for Vertigo Assessments?
  • At what age is vertigo most common?
  • What kind of physical therapy works to reduce vertigo?
  • What is particle repositioning manoeuvre?
  • How does physical therapy help vertigo?
  • Is anxiety associated with vertigo?
  • What are Singer’s nodes?
What are the common causes of vertigo?

A wide range of health issues can cause Vertigo, some of the most common causes are- Cold viruses, Head trauma, Meniere’s disease.

What causes BPPV?

BPPV is caused by loose otoconia (small calcium carbonate crystals) within the inner ear, which is a part of the balance mechanism. In BPPV, these crystals break loose from their normal attachments and are free to tumble around the inner ear. When the involved ear is suddenly put in a downward position, the otoconia stimulates a part of the inner ear abnormally. This results in brief but intense vertigo.

Can vertigo be treated?

Vertigo takes time to heal but, Yes, it can be treated with medication, physical therapy, and surgery. Choosing an expert and experienced physician can increase the chances of early recovery.

Where should I go for Vertigo Assessments?

Vertigo Labs, where the diagnosis of dizziness is conducted through easy-to-perform physical examination tests, including evaluation for nystagmus, the Dix-Hallpike maneuver, and orthostatic blood pressure testing.

At what age is vertigo most common?

Vertigo can happen at any age, but it is common in people aged 65 years or over. It can happen when there is a problem with the inner ear, brain, or sensory nerve pathway.

What kind of physical therapy works to reduce vertigo?

Vestibular rehabilitation is a type of physical therapy that helps to reduce Vertigo. These are the common Vestibular Rehab Exercises that are performed under the guidance of a professional physical therapist

  • Neck mobility/stretching exercises
  • General fitness exercises
  • Vision stability training, Posture training
  • Balance retraining
  • Walking exercises
  • Ergonomic training
What is particle repositioning manoeuvre?

The Epley manoeuvre, also called the canalith repositioning procedure, is used to treat BPPV type of Vertigo. It takes 10-15 minutes to perform in the presence of a physical therapist. In this procedure, the canalith is displaced from the canal to stop the Vertigo.

How does physical therapy help vertigo?

When the inner ear is damaged, people commonly experience severe spinning for several days, which causes loss of balance, then physical therapy can help restore this balance. The reason physical therapy is helpful is that it helps train the brain to compensate for the loss of function in the ear. Just as you can make a muscle stronger by exercising it, you can make the balance system in the brain work better by exercising it.

Is anxiety associated with vertigo?

Yes. Anxiety does produce Vertigo but vertigo causes extreme anxiety in most people. People with certain anxiety disorders such as panic attacks can sometimes also experience vertigo.

What are Singer’s nodes?

Singer’s nodes, or vocal nodules, are small calluses on the vocal cords. It can occur in both boys and girls, but predominantly in women.
Nodules come from abuse to the vocal cords associated with:

  • Yelling
  • Screaming
  • An unnatural pitch or singing style

Vocal nodules can be treated easily and successfully with voice therapy.


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