SALT LAKE CITY – University of Utah Health’s Rehabilitation Services recently began utilizing a cutting-edge device intended to help patients with a neurological disease or injury regain the visual and motor skills necessary for driving and other day-to-day functions.
The Dynavision D2 is a visual and motor system treatment tool for patients with cognitive and motor deficits, visual impairments, and attention disorders. U of U Health is the only facility in the region to offer the Dynavision as an aid to recovery for individuals on both an inpatient and outpatient basis, which allows use of this system across the entire continuum of care. The Dynavision is part of a comprehensive therapy regimen uniquely designed for each patient by expert physicians and therapists.
“The Dynavision technology is more hands-on and relatable to a real-life activity; a more stimulating type of therapy as opposed to those based on paper and pencil meant to focus on the same impairments,” says Marc Rosello, occupational therapist for U of U Health Care’s Rehabilitation Services. “It’s very motivating for the patient to see the improvement, and sometimes they find that they’re competing with themselves to improve their own performance.”
Among its other uses, which include improving balance, attention, strength, range of motion, coordination, motor planning, and endurance, U of U Health's Rehabilitation Services is using the Dynavision to assist during driver’s evaluation to assess a person’s ability to drive safely again. It is also used as part of therapy to regain the skills required for driving.
The device gives measurable information back to the patient and the therapist so they can see improvement and track progress. It also adjusts to the height or ability of the person if, for instance, the person is working from a wheel chair. Patients may also increase the speed, accuracy, and efficiency with which they are able to absorb visual information under a variety of cognitive demands.
The Dynavision D2 was first developed for athletes to improve reaction time and coordination. An occupational therapist who specializes in visual-perceptual dysfunction recognized its benefits for patients with cognitive and motor deficits, visual impairments, and attention disorders and worked with the company to adapt the device specifically to patients with compromised abilities in those areas. For more information on the Dynavision D2.
About U of U Health's Rehabilitation Services
Rehabilitation Services at Craig H. Neilsen Rehabilitation Hospital has a long tradition of providing specialized care for a wide variety of conditions, including brain injury, stroke, spinal cord injury, amputation, and other forms of severe illness and neurological injury. Its interdisciplinary team works together to ensure comprehensive, patient-centered care. Even after a patient leaves the inpatient hospital, rehabilitation care is continued through outpatient physician and therapy appointments, ongoing patient education, and access to support groups. Rehabilitation Services’ dedicated specialty teams support patients and their families throughout the continuum of care, from the onset of injury or illness through return to health and independence. Visit Neilsen Rehabilitation Hospital for more information.