Science is advancing day by day which is a very satisfying thing for humanity. Humans have to deal with different types of illness and disease. In such a case technology can help us save many lives. Technology has also assisted in making life easy for patients struggling with different medical conditions. Occupational therapy is one field that is also helping people with mental disorders and related issues. Occupational therapy is aimed at the elderly. Experts in this field can give training to other young people for employment roles in the future.
Today different technologies are changing the quality of occupational therapy. Some technologies are visual aids, virtual assistance phones, video games, smart shoes, and robotics, etc. You can also connect these gadgets with your Smartphone and operate apps like Connect app, etc. Here are some details about the technologies today being used for changing the success graph rate of occupational therapy.
Virtual assistance
In therapy, there are different technologies incorporated to make it more successful, and virtual assistance is one of them. Just imagine the ease of comfort it provides to the patients. Today we have Google assistance and Alexa like virtual assistance. These robots can identify human voices and can perform several functions based on just voice. These gadgets can be connected to your TV sets, smartphones, and laptops. There are many devices at home such as AC, water geezer, music system which can be operated using Smartphones from any corner of the house. Using this technology patients can also call doctors or fix an appointment for their therapy sessions. VA can also remind patients about the time to take medications or therapy appointment schedules.
Smart shoes
Today the majority of people are suffering from some sort of problem in their back, legs, and knees. They face challenges while walking and some people also need walking assistance. If your feet are not comfortable you will not be able to walk even a few steps. Appropriate shoes are required to keep feet muscles relaxed and stress-free while you walk or run. Today we have smart shoes that provide precise comfort to your feet. This is AposTherapy technology that has designed smart shoes which can reduce stress on the affected parts. There are many benefits of this technology when you use it in your daily life.
Visual aid technology
3 out of 2 people in the world wear glasses to clear their vision. The especially elderly group is most affected by vision issues. Today we have technology that has given us OrCam My Eye 2.0, which is incorporated in your glasses. This is an amazing technology that magnifying reading material to offer you excellent readability. It is also having an output for text speech for more convenience to those who face challenges reading. This technology is immensely helpful for people with visual disorders. It can improve the quality of your life. You can enjoy your entertainment and reading without any difficulty. You just have to fit this tiny computer on your regular glasses. This technology is available to regular people, but a little expensive.
Computerization and Robotics Technology
Individuals who are dealing with challenges with their movement may require help to restore movement and strength in their legs. Such new technologies can help them when it comes to their therapy. Some of them are mentioned below:
- TheraSuit: It helps people who are undergoing therapy to walk in the correct way. With this technology, you can build correct reflexes and also reduces the pressure exerted on your muscles and tendons. It may also support you in getting walking balance and coordination, as well as build bone density.
- Lokomat: It is based on robotic technology, which is fitted on your legs. It mimics the movement of the legs and pelvis so that you can see a great improvement in your walking. These robots transmit the weight from one leg to another upon their movement. After some time, a therapist can adjust the weight with the help of a computerized system. This way, it can develop resilience in a patient.
Hearing aid technologies
Many individuals may have problems with their hearing ability. Even they can raise their voice that reduces the ability to hear to a great extent. As there are many innovative technologies present in the market, it helps in increasing the ability of patients who have hearing problems to perceive sound. These technologies are:
- Hypersound Clear Speakers: Such speakers can intensify your sound so that a person with hearing problems can pick the sound. It also helps in increasing the clarity of sound without the need for headphones among listeners. These speakers can be provided to a patient so that he/she can follow their favorite shows, perform video calls, or listen to music.
- CaptionCall Amplified Phone: Of course, a patient with hearing issues is unable to use the standard phone. Using this technology, you can recognize your caption and voice on a large screen. This way, a patient can read the captions rather than putting strain to listen to the voice.
Video gaming
Some people have cognitive issues. This is where the role of video games comes in. These games play a great role in practicing spatial reasoning without leaving their homes. When a patient drives a game, he/she can boost their spatial reasoning and hand motions side by side. Spatial reasoning is used to make patients better realize locations and dimensions for activities like assembling household items, buttoning shirts, or wearing shoes perfectly. This technology helps patients to live better and normal life.
Final verdict
Occupational therapy has an immense role to play when it comes to restoring or increasing the normal functioning of different body parts like the mind, eyes, legs, or ears. With just the right type of technology, you can guide them on how they can live normally. Just find the right technology aid that meets their medical needs. You can find a variety of technologies on social media sites like Connected India, Facebook, Instagram, etc. So, take initiative and help such patients to live better.