Treatment of mTBI Balance Dysfuntion via Multimodal Biofeedback.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when physical trauma causes temporary or permanent neurological damage. In some cases, symptoms can continue and contribute to disability. Dizziness and vertigo are associated with nearly all reported studies of mTBI and are a significant and functionally limiting component of the overall disability. This project has as its aim the development of a portable device and protocol for the treatment of balance deficit in mTBI and TBI, suitable for use in military and civilian therapeutic facilities. Our approach will focus on a modular set of low cost hardware and also a modular set of configurable protocols that allow a therapist to configure the system that is based on the patient, therapeutic needs and the particular sensory feedback requirements. The protocols will be based on functional activities appropriate for a soldier, and the system will be designed to provide multi-modal feedback and cuing using the tactile, visual and audio modalities. Work will leverage off EAI"s existing vibrotactile commercial (and research) products, and balance training software and hardware system.