Quadriplegics Can Operate PCs with Chin

People paralyzed below the neck now can work on computers with their chin, thanks to a special 'chin stick' developed by the Indian Spinal Injury Centre (ISIC).

The chin stick is made of aluminum, with a long finger-like pointer that's used to hit the keyboard. It has an adjustable knob. It is attached to the chin and the head with a detachable strap that goes over the ears.

"Besides treatment, ISIC believes in vocational rehabilitation of our patients. The chin stick is just a step in that direction," said Divya Parashar, head of the department of rehabilitation psychology.

"The device is a simple and cost-effective tool for those paralyzed below the neck. At least 20 people have tested it and three software engineers are using it," said Nekram Upadhyay, a rehabilitation engineer at ISIC.

"The cost is less than Rs.100 but it's a utility device with lifelong validity," he added.

Engineers sit with patients, their family members, doctors and psychologists to customize the chin stick, according to the specific needs of each user.

The ISIC is a private specialty hospital, operational since 2000. Heading it is Major (Retd.) H.P.S. Ahluwalia, who is himself wheelchair-bound but has scaled Mount Everest.

Parashar said tetraplegic patients, whose all four limbs are paralyzed, tend to rue their plight and often become suicidal. If they are educated, it becomes very difficult for them to accept life after a major spinal cord injury.

"I had a 26-year-old patient who was a computer engineer. He had sustained major spinal cord injury in an accident. During his rehabilitation I found him depressed. But he would get excited at the sight of a computer. I am sure such patients will find the chin stick a lifeline," she said.