Hearing, the most exquisite blessing in life bestows upon us the ability to perceive the harmonious melodies and rhythms that surround us. It is a gift that we should cherish and appreciate. However, for those who are faced with hearing disabilities, life presents numerous obstacles and difficulties. In most cases, they are left dependent on those around them and require constant assistance and support. This is a very conventional scenario in India as many people suffer from hearing loss in the country.
This necessitates the need for organizations who are dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with hearing disabilities. A pioneering force in the niche is Nautilus Hearing Solutions, a Medical Equipment Manufacturing company, specializing in innovative solutions for hearing care. With a profound commitment to simplifying the process of hearing care, they strive to make it accessible and reliable for individuals worldwide.
Leading the way in transforming the landscape of hearing care is Remya Ravi, Co-Founder of Nautilus Hearing Solutions. She is an experienced professional with a demonstrated history of working in the hospital and healthcare industry.
With a steadfast commitment to simplicity, accessibility, and reliability, Nautilus strives to empower individuals to experience the world of sound with confidence and clarity.
While interacting with Healthcare Everything Remya shared a few insightful details about Nautilus, her journey at the organization and their future goals.
Let’s dive into the below highlights to learn how they are enriching the lives of individuals with hearing impairments worldwide:
Revolutionizing Hearing Health
In India, hearing loss is a common problem but also a neglected one. Although there are many devices available, they aren’t as effective and also come at a cost. This motivated the audiologist couple from Karnataka, Remya Ravi and her husband Uday Raga Kiran, to address the issue of hearing loss and revolutionize the landscape of hearing care.
Remya and Uday established Nautilus Hearing Solutions in 2018 with a noble mission to make hearing health care universally accessible and affordable. Their goal was to create an affordable device that could detect hearing loss quickly.
Their commitment to innovation drives them to pioneer cutting-edge solutions that cater to the diverse needs of their customers.
Leading the Revolution in Hearing Health
Remya Ravi is the Co-Founder of Nautilus Hearing Solutions, bringing a wealth of experience from the hospital and healthcare industry. With a strong background in Language Disorders, Audiology, and Human Resources, she is a versatile and passionate HR professional, boasting over a decade of success in steering strategic and operational initiatives.
After pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Remya did her Masters at Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute. She started her career as a lecturer at the Institute for Cognitive and Communicative Neurosciences. She was Director and Chief Consultant at Kaanchana Speech and Hearing Clinic before co-founding Nautilus Hearing Solutions with her husband and audiologist T Udaya Raga Kiran.
Based in Karnataka, India, Remya’s leadership has been instrumental in Nautilus Hearing Solutions’ recognition, including the prestigious Elevate 2018 award, a testament to her dedication and expertise in the field. Her dynamic contributions continue to drive the company’s mission of simplifying hearing care and making it accessible worldwide. Remya is a pivotal figure in the journey towards revolutionizing the landscape of hearing health.
KIVI: Affordable Hearing Detection Device
Despite lacking an engineering background, Remya and Uday dedicated themselves to the development of a cost-effective portable device that could detect hearing loss quickly. After various trial-and-error and tireless efforts, they devised “KIVI”, a breakthrough in swiftly detecting hearing loss.
Their endeavour received a significant boost in 2018 when the Karnataka government extended funding following Nautilus Hearing’s victory in the government’s ELEVATE 100 Programme.
In India, millions of children suffer from hearing and speech impairments with most cases coming from rural areas due to insufficient diagnosis. Remya and Uday wanted to change the scenario and recognized the need for accessible and affordable hearing loss diagnosis. They firmly believe that the availability of reasonably priced diagnostic devices can significantly diminish cases of hearing impairment.
Remya and Uday identified a glaring gap in the healthcare landscape: the high cost of hearing loss detection devices, which currently stands at Rs. 10 lakhs. To address this issue, clinics and hospitals need to allocate both financial resources and substantial space. Unfortunately, many healthcare facilities, particularly in rural areas, find these requirements prohibitive. Consequently, individuals often forgo seeking treatment, having to contend with a lack of infrastructure and the prevailing perception of the issue.
Enter the KIVI device, aptly named after the Kannada word for “ear”. This 800gm lightweight, portable device comes at a fraction of the cost, priced at just Rs. 2 lakh, and delivers results within 10 minutes, complete with a digital diagnostic report. Unlike its conventional counterparts, KIVI necessitates no dedicated space, rendering it 80% more cost-effective. It boasts two variants tailored to healthcare institutions and educational or industrial settings.
The preliminary results for KIVI are nothing short of astonishing, boasting a perfect success rate among the 250 individuals who have undergone testing. Its portability ensures accessibility across India, obviating the need for arduous journeys in search of a diagnosis.
Nautilus’s Vision for the Future
Nautilus envisions a world where hearing care seamlessly integrates into daily life, they aim to empower individuals to communicate effortlessly and engage fully in their communities, setting new benchmarks for accessibility and reliability in the field of hearing health.
Nautilus Hearing Solutions is set to make significant investments in research and development, with a focus on breakthroughs in hearing care. This includes exploring cutting-edge technologies such as AI-powered hearing solutions and implantable devices.
Investing in the training and professional development of audiologists, technicians, and healthcare providers is a key initiative for Nautilus Hearing Solutions. This ensures that the broader healthcare ecosystem is equipped to deliver high-quality, personalized hearing care.
Notable recognitions
Established only five years ago, Nautilus Hearing Solutions has earned numerous awards and accolades for its outstanding contributions to the field of hearing care. The esteemed Padma Shree Shri T. V. Mohandas Pai launched their flagship product. In 2020, Nautilus achieved ISO certification, a testament to its commitment to quality and excellence. Their commendable efforts were also praised by Infosys co-founders Narayan Murthy and Mrs. Sudha Murthy.
Among their accolades, Nautilus proudly received the Best Startup – Popular Choice Award at MeltingPot in 2020, as well as securing the coveted Winner title in “Elevate 2018”.
