Communication is the bedrock of human connection, yet for many, the ability to communicate effectively is a daily struggle. Within this landscape, Speech and Hearing Institutes step in as key entities, addressing the needs of those struggling with communication disorders. Through early intervention, specialized care, and a commitment to enhancing the quality of life, these institutes offer crucial support to individuals navigating speech and hearing challenges.
Standing proudly as one of India’s leading speech and hearing institutes is the MAA Institute of Speech and Hearing (MISH), a dedicated organization providing support and empowerment for individuals facing speech and communication disorders. With a focus on compassion and expertise, MISH strives to guide individuals towards improved communication and overall well-being.
Located in the heart of Hyderabad, MISH is more than just an institute; it’s a nurturing centre where individuals find relief and assistance in their journey towards better communication. Established by the visionary Mrs. Sunitha G Kumar, MISH is dedicated to providing comprehensive care and support to those in need. Under her leadership, MISH has become an institution of hope for individuals and families battling communication challenges.
With a focus on early intervention and specialized care, MISH offers a comprehensive range of services aimed at identifying, addressing, and supporting individuals with speech and hearing disorders. From its well-equipped facilities to its dedicated faculty, every aspect of MISH is tailored towards providing a supportive environment for those in need.
With a blend of expertise, empathy, and dedication, MISH strives to empower each individual to find their voice and embrace the joys of effective communication!
Leading with Compassion
Mrs. Sunitha G Kumar, a figure of inspiration in healthcare and hearing science, has dedicated herself to the well-being of individuals with hearing challenges. Her journey began in 1999 with the establishment of MAA ENT Hospital, driven by a transformative vision. Today, her legacy extends beyond healing to research, innovation, and humanitarian efforts. MISH embodies Sunitha’s vision of an institution devoted to audiology and speech-language pathology. As Founder and Chairman, Sunitha leads MISH in nurturing exceptional professionals and providing comprehensive education and rehabilitation for those with speech and hearing disorders.
Elevating Speech and Hearing Wellness
With a focus on academic excellence in health and rehabilitation, the MAA Group directed its efforts towards nurturing talent in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology. Their aim was simple yet profound: to train competent professionals who could enhance service delivery, research, and education in the sector.
In 2019, Sunitha took a significant step forward in her commitment to hearing well-being by establishing the MAA Institute of Speech and Hearing. The institution, born out of her vision, is dedicated to producing top-notch audiologists and speech-language pathologists in India. Responding to the pressing need for skilled professionals in hearing healthcare, MISH stands as a symbol of quality and dedication.
For Sunitha, quality is the cornerstone of healthcare, rehabilitation, and education. She firmly believes that it leads to better disease management, greater inclusivity for differently-abled individuals, and the development of exceptional clinicians for the future.
Affiliated with Osmania University and recognized by the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI), MISH embodies the MAA Group’s enduring dedication to quality healthcare and education. Its unique hospital campus, embracing diversity among students and staff, highlights its commitment to inclusive and holistic care.
A Vision for Excellence
MISH aspires to a future where society is free from Hearing-Speech-Language impairments. Their vision includes qualified professionals working alongside doctors to ensure the identification, treatment, rehabilitation, and social integration of those affected.
Their mission is to provide Hearing-Speech-Language education at par with international standards, aiming to nurture a pool of competent professionals known for their integrity, commitment, and passion. Plans for post-graduate courses in MSc (Audiology) and MSc (Speech Language Pathology), as well as doctoral programs in Audiology and Speech Language Pathology, are in the works.
Guided by values like humanity, integrity, humility, discipline, and agility, MISH endeavours to cultivate a steady stream of exceptional professionals in speech, language, and hearing.
Dedicated Departments
MISH takes pride in its outstanding infrastructure, comprising experienced faculty, a substantial caseload, a well-equipped laboratory featuring the latest instruments, an in-house surgical unit, and a pleasant educational atmosphere.
The college is organized into five main units:
- Audiology
- Speech Diagnostics
- Speech Therapy
- Cochlear Implant
- Rehabilitation
These units form the backbone of MISH’s comprehensive approach to addressing speech and hearing disorders, ensuring thorough assessment, tailored therapy, and effective rehabilitation for individuals in need.
Dept of Audiology
At MISH, hearing evaluations are conducted using cutting-edge audiologic testing equipment by skilled professionals. Serving individuals across all age groups, from neonates to the elderly, these evaluations encompass both subjective and objective measures to ensure comprehensive assessment.
Sound-treated rooms, meeting international standards for audiologic testing setups, are meticulously maintained and utilized at MISH for hearing evaluations. Following the formulation of a diagnosis, patients and their caretakers receive detailed counselling regarding the diagnosis, as well as guidance on rehabilitation and follow-up procedures. This personalized approach ensures that individuals receive the support and information they need to navigate their hearing health journey effectively.
Dept of Speech Language Pathology
The speech and language department at MISH is dedicated to evaluating, diagnosing, and managing speech and language disorders across both paediatric and adult populations.
Speech disorders encompass difficulties in articulating speech sounds, dysfluent speech, such as stammering, and voice problems. These disorders may occur independently or alongside other neurological conditions like dysarthria, apraxia, or cerebral palsy.
Language problems are observed in individuals of all ages. In adults, they often arise following neurological events such as stroke, accidents, head injuries, or as a consequence of aging. In children, language delays or deviations may occur independently, such as in Specific Language Impairment, or as a result of conditions like cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, or hearing loss.
The department at MISH is committed to providing comprehensive assessment and personalized management strategies tailored to each individual’s unique needs, ensuring effective support and intervention for speech and language challenges across the lifespan.
Dept of Cochlear Implantation
The Cochlear Implant Unit at MISH is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for children with bilateral profound sensorineural hearing loss by facilitating hearing and communication. Unlike hearing aids, which amplify sounds, cochlear implants directly stimulate auditory nerve endings with electrical impulses, bypassing damaged hair cells in the inner ear.
Our unit collaborates with children who are candidates for cochlear implants, whether through the Government-funded scheme “ADIP” or self-assisted, as well as those who have undergone implantation. Our interdisciplinary team, comprising audiologists, speech-language pathologists, psychologists, auditory-verbal therapists, and ENT surgeons, works in unison to provide comprehensive care.
Patients considering cochlear implantation undergo pre-implant counselling and a thorough evaluation of the child’s auditory, speech, and language skills to ensure they meet candidacy criteria. Through personalized assessment and intervention, MISH aims to optimize the outcomes of cochlear implantation, enabling children to effectively communicate and engage with the world around them.
Role of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists in Health and Well-being
Audiologists play a crucial role in professional practice, focusing on assessing hearing and balance, providing nonmedical treatment, and offering rehabilitation services. With a patient-centered approach, audiologists are dedicated to preventing, identifying, diagnosing, and treating hearing, balance, and related disorders across all age groups.
Hearing, balance, and related disorders are multifaceted, impacting various aspects of an individual’s life, including medical, psychological, physical, social, educational, and employment domains. As such, audiologists require a deep understanding of existing and emerging technologies, intervention strategies, and strong interpersonal skills to effectively counsel and guide individuals and their families through the rehabilitative process.
Through professional and personalized services, audiologists strive to minimize the adverse effects of these disorders, leading to improved outcomes and enhancing the overall quality of life for their patients.
Similarly, speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are essential professionals who specialize in communication and swallowing disorders across the lifespan. Communication encompasses a wide range of functions, including speech production, fluency, language, cognition, voice, resonance, and hearing. Swallowing, on the other hand, involves all aspects of the swallowing process, including related feeding behaviours.
Training Tomorrow’s Professionals
As of 2019, nearly 15 percent of the world’s population exhibited signs of communication and balance disorders, highlighting the growing prevalence of these conditions. This heightened awareness among the general population regarding the importance of treating speech, language, hearing, and balance disorders has led to a significant increase in demand for professionals in these fields. Consequently, pursuing a career as an Audiologist, Speech Language Pathologist, Speech Therapist, or Balance Therapist holds tremendous potential for aspiring students.
Working with patients who suffer from communication and balance disorders requires a combination of theoretical knowledge, practical training, and strong analytic abilities. MISH offers an ideal blend of experienced faculty, clinical exposure, and research opportunities to nurture high-quality professionals in Audiology, Speech-Language Pathology, and Speech Therapy, aligning with societal needs.
The field of Audiology & Speech Language Pathology is dedicated to understanding normal communication and hearing processes and applying that knowledge to identify, treat, and prevent communication disorders in individuals of all ages.
MISH provides an undergraduate program, Bachelor of Audiology & Speech Language Pathology, consisting of three years of degree coursework followed by a 10-month internship program. This degree equips students with the understanding of communication and balance processes and their disorders. Throughout the course, students learn about the assessment and management of speech, language, hearing, and balance disorders, preparing them for rewarding careers in these vital fields.
Foundation of a Promising Career
Professionals in the Speech and Hearing field play a crucial role in identifying and managing individuals whose interpersonal communication is affected. The prevalence of communication disorders has seen a significant increase in recent decades, which could be attributed to changes in lifestyle, dietary preferences, and increased awareness leading to more reported cases. However, despite this rise in demand, the number of professionals available to meet these needs at both national and international levels remains insufficient.
Graduates from programs in Speech and Hearing are well-equipped to serve as Audiologists and Speech and Language Pathologists across a variety of settings, including schools, universities, hospitals, nursing homes, industrial setups, and independent clinics. Additionally, there is ample scope for interdisciplinary research in this field, making it an exciting and promising career path for aspiring youngsters.
MISH has positioned itself as a premier institute in the field of speech and hearing, renowned for its programs in manpower generation, patient care, rehabilitation, and research. The institute is actively engaged in a wide range of multidisciplinary research initiatives and public awareness campaigns focused on prevention, early identification, intervention strategies for individuals with hearing impairment and communication disorders. Key research areas include the development of aids and devices, genetics of hearing impairment, and speech speaker recognition. Through its comprehensive approach, MISH continues to make significant contributions to the advancement of knowledge and practices in the field of speech and hearing.
Principal’s Message
Aparna Ravichandran serves as the Principal at MISH, holding a pivotal role in the institute’s leadership where she oversees both academic and administrative functions. With a dedicated focus on teaching and mentoring, Aparna possesses expertise in a wide array of subjects within the field of audiology.
As a Lecturer, Aparna excels in imparting knowledge on topics ranging from Hearing Sciences and Auditory Perception to Genetics of Hearing and Paediatric Audiology at the Masters level. At the Bachelor level, she provides comprehensive instruction on Aural Rehabilitation for Adults, Paediatric Audiology, Amplification devices, Audiology, and Linguistics, ensuring students receive both practical and theoretical knowledge. Through her mentorship, she supports learners from diverse backgrounds, abilities, and aspirations, guiding them towards realizing their full potential.
She expresses her shared goal with the institute, emphasizing, “We believe in the holistic development of the students and in serving the community with compassion and excellence.”
Vice-Principal Message
Gish Chacko, Vice-Principal & Associate Professor in Audiology & Speech Language Pathology is a versatile professional having over 10 years of experience in teaching undergraduate, postgraduate students. His special areas of interest include the disorders of speech specifically Autism spectrum disorders and voice disorders. His expertise is to provide students with in-depth knowledge, insights and practical applications of the subject. He conveys complex concepts and ideas in clear and engaging manner. He has guided master’s students for their Dissertations. He had also served as Academic coordinator of the institute for four years. Gish have presented papers and participated in various national and international level conferences. He has publications in different journals. He is a life member of the Indian Speech and Hearing Association. Gish is a registered member of Rehabilitation Council of India.
He believes in the vision of institute “to create exceptional Speech, Language and Hearing professionals to serve the community with passion.” Envisions creating a continuous stream of exceptional Speech, Language and Hearing professionals through constant clinical training, research & education, aimed at creating better services for Hearing, Speech and Language disorders prevailing in the society.
Read More: Click Here
