Help test this life-saving iPad app for diagnosing concussion in kids

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brainsworldwide2
Gamification app would help to diagnose concussions.
Photo: Brains Worldwide

Austin-based research group Brains Worldwide Foundation is developing a new iPad app to help parents carry out concussion tests on their kids at home, if they fear their children might have suffered a brain trauma during a sports game or similar.

“Kids bump their heads all the time,” said Wendy Lipton-Dibner, CEO of Brains Worldwide. “How many times in a week do we bump our own heads? … Our big concern is when (a concussion) is not diagnosed.”

The so-called Objective Brain Concussion Assessment and Monitoring System is an iPad app designed to work on kids aged 8 to 18, although a forthcoming app will also work for kids ever younger than 8. It works a lot like a video game, with a series of tests — lasting around 10 minutes — designed to test eye movement, ability to focus, memory, reaction time and equilibrium.

At the moment, the app is still in the crowdfunding stage, but will be carrying out real-world tests in March, before the app goes on sale in June for $300. If you’re interested, you can sign up to be one of 150 test families right here.

This week, Apple COO (and possible future CEO) Jeff Williams spoke out about Apple’s belief in its product’s abilities to help “democratize” medicine by putting tools such as this into regular people’s hands.

Source: MyStatesman

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