Mysuru
The All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH), Mysuru, has launched Punarjeevan, a state-of-the-art, technology-enabled neurorehabilitation unit aimed at restoring function, independence and quality of life among persons affected by stroke, traumatic brain injury, brain and neurological cancers, dementia and other neurological and neurodegenerative conditions.
The unit was inaugurated by Trishika, a member of Mysore royal family and a wife of Kodagu-Mysuru Lok Sabha Member Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar,, in the presence of Dr. Pushpavathi, Director, AIISH; Dr. S. P. Goswami; and faculty and staff members of the Centre for Children and Adults with Speech-Language Disorders (CSLD) and the Clinic for Adults and Elderly Persons with Communication Disorders (CAEPLD).
The unit envisaged as the first-of-its-kind integrated technology-enabled neurorehabilitation facility in India that brings advanced, internationally aligned rehabilitation technologies together with multidisciplinary clinical expertise while making such specialised services accessible and affordable to the public. The launch comes at a time when neurological disorders are emerging as a major public-health challenge. Globally, more than 3 billion people are estimated to live with a neurological condition, while stroke alone accounted for approximately 93.8 million prevalent cases and 11.9 million new cases in 2021. Dementia affects more than 57 million people worldwide, with nearly 10 million new cases reported every year. These conditions frequently result in long-term difficulties affecting communication, cognition, mobility, swallowing, balance and independent living.
The program has been designed to address these complex rehabilitation needs through an integrated multidisciplinary model. It brings together advanced Speech-Language Therapy, cognitive-linguistic rehabilitation, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and technology-assisted rehabilitation under one comprehensive facility.
A major strength of the unit is its state-of-the-art Speech-Language Therapy facility, which provides advanced assessment and intervention for aphasia, dysarthria, cognitive-communication disorders, swallowing difficulties and other communication problems associated with neurological conditions. Conventional evidence-based therapy is augmented by digital cognitive-linguistic rehabilitation, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and digital therapeutic applications such as the Constant Therapy (CT) app, enabling structured, personalised and intensive rehabilitation.
The facility also incorporates robotics and advanced rehabilitation technologies, including robotic gait training, balance rehabilitation systems and task-oriented rehabilitation equipment. These technologies facilitate repetitive, intensive and goal-oriented practice for individuals with difficulties in walking, balance, coordination and functional activities.
The multidisciplinary approach is particularly beneficial for persons recovering from stroke and traumatic brain injury, who may simultaneously experience speech and language impairment, cognitive difficulties, swallowing problems, weakness, balance disorders and reduced functional independence. Individuals with brain and neurological cancers can also benefit from rehabilitation addressing communication, cognition, swallowing and physical functioning. Similarly, persons living with dementia and other neurodegenerative disorders can receive specialised cognitive-communication and functional rehabilitation.
Importantly, it is not limited to the use of advanced equipment. Its focus is on combining clinical expertise, technology, personalised intervention and measurable functional outcomes. The unit is also envisioned as a centre for clinical research, innovation, professional training and capacity building in technology-enabled neurorehabilitation.
The establishment of Punarjeevan reflects AIISH’s commitment to providing rehabilitation services that are responsive to the changing needs of society and aligned with contemporary international standards. By integrating speech-language pathology, cognitive rehabilitation, neuromodulation, digital therapeutics, robotics, physiotherapy and occupational therapy, the facility aims to provide comprehensive rehabilitation closer to the needs of the individual and family.
