Hopeful video about balance rehab developments!

[ZigZagGal]

Hi all, 
Changed my user name.  I am still me (Tracie), just wanted something more interesting.  The new name fits my tendency to change my mind a lot (a gemini, what can I say?) and my current dizzy brain. 

A friend at work sent me this link showing new technology being tried to teach the brain to use one sense to compensate for another.  The first 2/3 of this video is about a blind man using the sense of touch to "see".  The last third shows how a woman with complete vestibular loss "rewired" her brain using a helmet contraption that gave her vestibular information through touch.   She is now able to ride a bike!  Looks like it is still in the developmental stages, but wow,what a godsend that could be. 

http://www.pbs.org/kcet/wiredscience/video/286-mixed_feelings_.html

I found this video to be very uplifting.  I am a wait and watcher with a tiny AN and a lot to be thankful for, but the balance issues of the last 6 months have really been wearing me down.   Vestibular rehab has been gradually making a difference, but the road has been very rocky  (no pun intended).  A few weeks ago I experienced a "drastic improvement".  I almost felt almost normal again, for two days.  Then I had a setback that sent me back to square one.  Seeing this woman "liberated" was very touching to me.  It gave the extra motivation to keep doing my exercises and pushing it every day.  I know I'll get back to where I was again and maybe stay there longer. 

Tracie

[4cm in Pacific Northwest]

Thanks for sharing this video link. I have just shared it with some others via the link in an e-mail.

Very interesting stuff is this neuroscience… this whole AN journey has actually been quite fascinating.

Keep moving forward,

4

[4cm in Pacific Northwest]

I shared your link and in turn the “Brainport� technology info was shared with me- specifically. Check out these web links on the topic. The New York Times article is about the vestibular patient depicted in the video you shared specifically.

http://www.wicab.us/

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/23/science/23sens.html

http://www.vestibular.org/vestibular-disorders/research/brainport-tm.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brainport


Incredibly interesting stuff this is. As my teenager would say, “this is so totally way cool!�
 

4

[ZigZagGal]

Thanks for the links 4.  I checked them out and they are totally way, way cool!   I discovered a resource in Minneapolis that I didn't know about before from the Veda site  - the Neuroscience Institute at Abbott NW Hospital.  I'm happy with my vestibular therapist, but it is nice to know that there are other options. 
Be well,
Tracie

[nancyann]

Thank you so much Tracy - I really enjoyed watching the video. 

4 - I checked your follow-up sites,  thank you also!

[ernie h]

thank you very intriguing.

[Tumbleweed]

Has anyone heard an estimate from the manufacturer of when they expect/hope to go to market with the BrainPort? I'd love to get one of these!!!!

Best wishes,
Tumbleweed