Think tennis for yes, home for no: how doctors helped man in vegetative state
2010 February 4
For seven years the man lay in a hospital bed, showing no signs of consciousness since sustaining a traumatic brain injury in a car accident. His doctors were convinced he was in a vegetative state. Until now.
To the astonishment of his medical team, the patient has been able to communicate with the outside world after scientists worked out, in effect, a way to read his thoughts.
They devised a technique to enable the man, now 29, to answer yes and no to simple questions through the use of a hi-tech scanner, monitoring his brain activity.
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How fascinating…
Many of these devices and research don’t translate into useful products. Sometime back I was looking into one such product made by a UK company for someone I knew whose mind is active, can talk but cannot hear and see. The guy says he doesnt have the approval to sell it outside UK yet! Such devices could improve the quality of life for many such people if only they reach them.
How frustrating. I hope he does find something that helps. I agree with you, this sort of research needs to translate into something that reaches people everywhere, sooner rather than later.
I am excited too. At last I can hope to understand how my wife’s mind works .Even if some day in the future : )
Just Kidding..
check this out uttara:
http://kesuresh.blogspot.com/
thanks very much for that link. read a bit and will go back.
I am glad that the doctors are optimistic, otherwise it is easy to be saddled with the fact that there is so much that needs to be done in this area. The thing is, it is scary to imagine a working brain trapped in a non-functional body!
Anjali Said
The thing is, it is scary to imagine a working brain trapped in a non-functional body!
This is a fulcrum of one the types of workshops ( special educators go through ) to understand a disabled persons plight. Activities like tying a fully abled adult to a chair and asking him to do something like say move a pen , or even just sit idle for durations of time.
So you dont have to get scared really . There are lots and lots of such People suffering . And the world is learning to work with them .
Of course it is difficult to realise the magnitude of patience required unless you are too close to the subject.
I think this world needs to encourage & have more of such devices. And we know many brains trapped in disabled bodies. Take the case of Steven Hawkins for example.
This is fascinating, and very, very, thought-provoking. The questions, the issues, the possibilities, the problems….are endless and mind-boggling. Thanks for sharing this.