Technology to the Aid of Stroke Patients; Therapy and Treatment
A stroke survivor is one of the most precious being to handle, by family members as well as their doctors. A stroke affects the patient’s sensory motors in the brain, leading to loss of speech or limb movements, besides several other emotional and mental disturbances. It is a challenge for tech manufacturers to aid doctors or caregivers and the patients themselves to develop devices that help in improving communications or enable normal physical activity.
NewYork: These devices usually include alarms, wireless telecommunication aids, watches or lighting equipment. The devices are in reach of the patients or worn on their clothes. They are usually connected to a mobile or landline phone which in turn is remotely controlled. For example, a patient whose speech is affected can set off an alarm that is intercepted by the telecommunications service providers who can in turn alert the caretakers. The other devices could include fall detectors, monitors, pocket devices, movement detectors etc. — all of which require latest computing technology.
Several speech therapists treating stroke patients require apps that are compatible with devices like say the iPad. Patients, whose speech has not been completely lost but only affected to the extent where they are unable to convey properly their needs, would be benefitted a lot through such gadgets and devices.
Even psychiatrists treating stroke patients who are suffering from depression or loss of memory are collaborating with tech manufacturers to help their patients by using these devices. Most stroke patients suffer from a condition called apraxia and action disorganization syndrome (AADS). The symptoms include the patients forgetting the processing of simple everyday tasks, such as making tea, which they had been good at before the stroke. Now psychologists and engineers have come together to improve the lives of thousands of patients with this condition. Brain-scanning equipment is one such where in the doctors can assess the extent of damage. They can follow it up with correction therapy which again calls for technology.
These systems will monitor the patients as they go about their daily tasks and guide or advice them when they are stuck. It will help improve the patients’ condition and repair the damaged cells to a large extent.
But setting up this rehabilitation system is the real challenge. Finally the patients will have to wear watches that vibrate and bear with all kinds of devices attached to their belongings like the toothbrush or a vest. The devices will detect any mistakes and warn, alert or guide and advice the patients as to the correct moves.
