Technology, aphasia and stroke survivors

Back in the spring and summer of 1998, I spent a lot of time rebuilding my speaking and writing abilities. One of the effects of my stroke, I learned, was something called aphasia, an impairment of language which occurs when someone suffers injury to the language areas of the brain.

Often, as in my case, this accompanies a stroke.

In addition to speech therapy, I spent quite a bit of time playing on a child's education toy called the GeoSafari, originally bought for our daughters to use. The toy helped me get my words/grammar back in order, or at least to an acceptable degree. We actually sold the GeoSafari at a yard sale not long ago and thought about those days as it left with an eager parent.

But from the United Kingdom comes the news that with fancier technology these days, we might harness video game technology to help stroke survivors improve communication skills:

Motion sensing technologies, such as the Nintendo Wii Remote, could be used in the rehabilitation of people with aphasia - a language impairment, commonly caused by a stroke, that affects around 250,000 people in the UK. ...

"Gesture tracking and recognition technologies are becoming a ubiquitous part of new computing and gaming environments, ranging from Apple's touch-screen iPad through the hand-held Nintendo Wii Remote to Microsoft's forthcoming Kinect for the Xbox 360, which will track users' movements without the need for a handheld controller," says Stephanie Wilson, Senior Lecturer in HCID at City University London. "Whilst popular in gaming, we will evaluate the suitability of such technologies in aphasia rehabilitation."

We've already seen articles about how the Wii Fit can help the physical consequences of a stroke. Now, perhaps similar technology can help conquer other issues. Aphasia was the most frustrating part of my recovery. Here's hoping that technology will ease some of that frustration.

(Image from the National Library of Medicine)

Playing and working - at the same time

Wii games speed stroke rehab

In a first-of-its-kind study, 11 stroke victims with weakness in their arms could reach out and grab objects more easily and more quickly after two weeks of playing the active video games.

In contrast, 11 stroke patients who played card or block games for two weeks showed no change in arm strength afterward, says Gustavo Saposnik, MD, director of the Stroke Outcomes Research Unit at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto.

"For the first time, we've shown that the virtual reality gaming system is safe, feasible, and potentially effective at improving motor function after stroke," he tells WebMD.

In 2010, exercise could save your life

This year, Stroke of Faith will offer a series of common-sense-approach entries about stroke prevention, awareness and myths.

First, some stroke prevention ideas.

One tool of prevention is exercise. You don't have to run a marathon or bicycle across the country to help prevent a stroke. Instead, here's some good advice from the National Stroke Association:

A brisk walk for as little as 30 minutes a day can improve your health in many ways, and may reduce your risk for stroke.

Try walking with a friend; this will make it more likely that you'll make it a habit.

If you don't enjoy walking, choose another exercise or activity that you do enjoy, such as biking, swimming, golf, tennis, dance, or aerobics.

Make time each day to take care of yourself by exercising.

And as always, especially if you haven't exercised recently, check with your doctor before you start. If you're looking for something more indoors, check out the offerings available through a Nintendo Wii and the accessory Wii Fit.

As a long-distance runner for years - pre-stroke and post-stroke - I'm convinced that my fitness level helped me survive. From the Stanford Stroke Center: "Experts recommend at least 20 to 30 minutes of aerobic exercise three to four times a week in order to achieve and maintain an improved level of fitness."

The time is a great investment - maybe even an investment in your survival.

(Photo from National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)

Wii Fit: fun therapy

While I don't need a Wii Fit for physical therapy, I'd love to try one out just for the sheer fun of it. It sounds like a way to help some recovering stroke survivors. This one is from The Plain Dealer, in Cleveland, Ohio.

From the article in The Plain Dealer in Cleveland:

Physical therapy is best served with a little camaraderie and light conversation, but therapist Nancy Ditzel also dished out some fun to recovering stroke patient Marilyn Smigelski recently.

The LakeEast Hospital therapist put Smigelski to work on the latest Nintendo Wii video system game, called Fit. While the American Physical Therapy Association magazine recently reported widespread use among members of Wii games that simulate sports like tennis and bowling, the Lake hospital system is the first locally to use the Fit game in physical therapy.