Aural device for balance
problems
Experiencing problems with balance can be a common problem for older
people, as well as for those with certain diseases or those taking
medication that interferes with the sensory signals keeping us upright.
A device being developed by the Oregon Health and Science University’s
neurological sciences institute in the US, could help make these
problems a thing of the past.
The unit is worn on a belt like an iPod, complete with headphones, and
uses sound to alert wearers to the fact that they are veering off
course. Different sounds are associated with different positions: users
learn to ‘read’ the signals enabling them to correct a balance problem
before they fall.
The device functions like a spirit level. When, for example, the user
leans forward, a high-pitched tone is emitted that gets louder the
further forward the user leans. If they lean backward, they hear a
low-pitched tone. A tone in the left ear alerts the user to the fact
that they are leaning too far left, while a tone in the right ear alerts
them if they are leaning too far to the right.
“The sound cue is really intuitive”, said Marco Dozza, a researcher at
the Institute, “and subjects learned to understand them very quickly,
usually within about two minutes”.
In a study of 49 patients, including nine with bilateral vestibular loss
(damage to those portions of the inner ear that control balance caused
by ototoxic medications) those who used the device were found to sway
less.
Dozza estimates that development of the product will be complete by
the end of 2006. “We are discussing commercialisation with several
companies and expect that the device will be available to buy in the
next two years”, he said.
Source: bjhc&im December 2005
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