Asphear Technologies and Services

Asphear Technologies and Services is dedicated to transforming the landscape of hearing and speech healthcare by offering affordable, accessible, and sustainable solutions. Our initiative is to  decentralize early detection and rehabilitation of individuals with hearing loss and communication disorders by leveraging telepractice solutions. The company has developed affordable out-of-the box tools that can support last mile services by community-level personnel, empowering the vast majority of the rural population in India and other Low-middle income countries to have access to early screening. 

The current core technology is an app  based screener with suitable transducers that ensures valid screening results at a fraction of the traditional cost. We also provide some screening tools for developmental disabilities and speech at zero cost.

Asphear Technologies and Services hopes to create an ecosystem of affordable hearing care that empowers individuals, families, and healthcare providers to make informed decisions.

The company’s vision extends beyond simply offering a product; it is committed to leveraging such tools to build models that enable last mile community-level services for hearing and communication disorders. With sustainability at its heart, the company continues to innovate and work towards solutions that can be deployed on a global scale, ensuring that hearing and speech care is not limited to resourceful /urban centers but is within reach of all individuals.

Asphear Screener: 

This screener a comprehensive tool for early detection of communication disorders it encompass free modules of speech & language screener(LEST), developmental screener (RBSK) and Hear Kids which is a affordable pediatric hearing screener. 

Language Evaluation Scale Trivandrum (LEST):

This is mHealth based Speech & Language screener for 0-6 years children with screens for Speech & Language domains.

Publication: Vasudharany Varadharajan, Subramaniyan B , Vidya Ramkumar, Lakshmi Venkatesh, Kavyashree Chandrasekar, (2024).Field validation of an app based developmental and speech language screening (SRESHT screener) conducted by grass root workers.Elsevier. Volume 26. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cegh.2024.101529

Rastriya Bal Swastiya Karyakram (RBSK):

This is developmental screener for 0-6 years children with screens for Grass Motor, Fine Motor, Vision, Hearing, Speech, Cognition, Social domains.

Publication: Kavyashree Chandrasekar ,Lakshmi Venkatesh, Vidya Ramkumar, Subramaniyan Balasubramaniyan, Vasudharany Varadharajan. Validation of a developmental screening tool from a national health program in India for screening speech-language disorders among children [version 1; peer review: 3 approved with reservations] Wellcome Open Res 2023, 8:576 https://doi.org/10.12688/wellcomeopenres.20103.1)

Hear Kids

Is a subjective hearing screener tool that costs just 1/10th of the price of currently marketed hearing screening devices. This cost-effective pediatric hearing screener allows for easy, quick, and reliable detection of hearing issues in a wide range of environments, from community centers to remote clinics. The affordability of this tool is a game-changer for pediatric populations who may otherwise have limited access to quality healthcare or specialized hearing screenings. 

 Accessibility:

• Designed for decentralized use, the screener empowers primary healthcare workers and volunteers to conduct screenings, removing the need for specialist intervention at the initial stage.
• Lightweight and portable, it can be easily carried to remote areas, ensuring inclusivity for underserved communities.
• The screener features a user-friendly interface, enabling non-specialists with no/minimal training to operate it effectively.
• Automated results, easy-to-understand recommendations and availability of local language greatly enhances utility. 

 Accuracy:

• The device has undergone rigorous testing and validation, demonstrating excellent agreement (κ=0.82) with gold-standard audiometric screening methods. (Formative JMIR: Link to the study – Validation of the mobile hearing screener, demonstrating its strong agreement with gold-standard audiometric tools. ResearchGate: Link to the project – Details the broader scope of the telepractice initiative and its technological innovations.)
• It reliably identifies hearing losses above 60 dBHL  of hearing loss ensuring timely and accurate referrals for further intervention.

   How It Works:

• The screener uses age-appropriate and validated modules (see paper) to detect hearing impairments and speech-language delays.
• The results are generated instantly and uploaded to the cloud, where they can be accessed for review and action.
• The screener can also be used in areas with no/poor internet connections, Once the network service is reliable the results are uploaded automatically to the cloud system.
• Program administrators can access the data to visualize, interpret and increase the efficiency of the device.

Test Modules available:

1. Behavioural Observational Audiometry (BOA):

This test modules screens for children between the age of 3 months to 1.5 years of age with a sensitivity of 93 and specificity of 96.

2. Speech Spectrum Awareness Task (SSAT):

This test modules screens for children between the age of 1.6 years to 3 years of age with a sensitivity of 89 and specificity of 87.

3. Speech Recognition Task (SRT):

This test modules screens for children above the age of 3 years with a validity of sensitivity of 92 and specificity of 92.

Hear Kids currently supports Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi lanuages for hearing screening.

 Atmosphear- A Cloud-Based Data Management System:

• The screener is integrated with a secure, cloud-based data management system that ensures seamless storage, retrieval, and analysis of screening data.
• Real-Time Reporting: Healthcare workers can upload results to the cloud in real time, providing instant access to healthcare professionals and administrators for follow-ups and referrals.
• Centralized Data Storage: The system centralizes patient data, enabling healthcare providers to monitor trends, track progress, and maintain comprehensive records across regions.
• Actionable Insights: The platform leverages data analytics to generate population-level insights, aiding policymakers and healthcare administrators in planning large-scale screening and intervention programs.

Real-World Impact:

The screener has been instrumental in:

• Primary Health Screenings: Used in mass screening programs to detect hearing and speech issues early, preventing long-term complications.
• Rural and Semi-Urban Outreach: Deployed in underserved areas, reducing the gap between healthcare services and communities in need where expensive objective devices are scarce.
• Early Intervention Programs: Supporting early diagnosis and timely intervention, leading to improved health outcomes for children.
• Policy and Research: The cloud-based system supports data-driven decision-making, helping public health authorities design targeted intervention programs.