Brain injury conference

Fifty-thousand Canadians suffer brain injuries every year — and that number is on the rise. Today brain injury survivors are gathering to look at new treatments — and how technology is helping victims live fuller lives.

We use our iPhones for lots of things these days — music, checking emails, booking appointments. But at the 21st annual Rehabilitation and Brain Injury Conference they are using smart phones to literally help retrain the brain.

Eight years ago Travis Bailey’s life changed forever. In a much publicized case, he was shot in the head in a case of mistaken identity and suffered a severe brain injury: “I find I have problems co-ordinating my tasks. Sometimes I need help from other people to co-ordinate my tasks and I receive occupational therapy and personal support help. I would like to regain some of my independence”

So he paid a visit to the acquired brain injury conference to see if there are any new treatments that could help him do that. “You have to watch the bulbs light up watch for two bulbs. Perfect.”

Dr. Amir Raz is an expert in brain rehab and say’s there are some exciting things happening in the field right now: “We can tailor intervention programs that lock on and stimulate and reinvigorate specific brain mechanisms, specific modules that promote stimulation. A little bit like a brain gym if you will”

New to the conference this year is the technology room. Here they are using things like the iPad to use visual and verbal queues to help people improve brain function and memory. We are also learning about using the iPhone. There’s a new mobile app developed by a Hamilton man, Sergio Digiovani. He suffered a traumatic brain injury after an accident and developed Q-card to help him recover.

Q-Card is an app Digiovani worked with staff and students at Mohawk College to develop. It gives people queues to prompt their memory for simple things such as taking medication but it’s also used for guided tasks: “Tasks like doing laundry, most people start and then forget. Now with Q-card, you can create reminders within 45 minutes after that your dryer is done, it takes you from start to end successfully, you can also set up appointments as well as travel times.”

Travis also tried out the infrascanner. It’s a revolutionary hand held device that can detect bleeding in the brain long before symptoms show up. But one of his favourite new gadgets is Q-card: “This would be a good one for me because of my fatigue. My injury fatigues me. If I don’t make it to the door I’d like it to be locked.”

Those are just a few of the innovative gadgets at the conference. If you missed it today, don’t worry. It runs again Friday from 8:30 to 5 at the Hamilton Convention Centre.