Last month, Dakim, Inc., announced a new touchscreen-based alternative for stroke and traumatic brain injury (TBI) rehabilitation that provides a rigorous workout in an entertaining interactive format. The system was originally developed to help maintain brain health and combat dementia symptoms in the elderly and is used in more than 300 senior living communities to provide residents with daily cognitive stimulation. The new expansion into the rehabilitation market was spurred by therapist interest as well as use of the system at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., to assist soldiers with TBI in regaining cognitive function. Clinicians benefit from receiving novel therapy material individualized for each patient on a daily basis, helping to reduce preparation time and increase productivity as well as making each therapy session engaging and challenging.
“The feedback we’re getting from speech pathologists in particular is that Dakim BrainFitness is more enjoyable for patients than conventional workbooks and exercises. It provides a thorough cognitive workout with the appearance and humor of a TV game show, customizes the ‘show’ for each user based on his or her responses, and adds variety to the therapy experience,” said Dakim CEO Dan Michel. “All of these factors help produce results by keeping users engaged.”
“I have patients who ask for more than one Dakim session a day because it doesn’t feel like work and provides a distraction from their health problems,” said speech pathologist Katherine Sullivan, MS CCC-SLP, who has been using the system for more than a year. “It’s not a game, but it feels like one, and that provides a lot more motivation than conventional exercises. That alone makes it a useful addition to the therapy schedule.”
