Coma is the prolonged period of unconsciousness immediately following traumatic brain injury. In this sleep-like state, there is no speech, the eyelids are usually closed, and there is no response to commands. There is an absence of awareness of self and the environment, even under conditions of vigorous external stimulation.

Vegetative state and Slow to Recover are diagnoses given to patients who are wakeful and lack cognitive or affective mental functioning. The primary differences between coma and vegetative state are eye opening responses and sleep/wake cycles.

Coma Stimulation / Coma Recovery

Coma stimulation is facilitating neuronal reorganization by providing meaningful stimuli that will produce a response and decrease sensory deprivation.

At Lakshya Neuro Rehab, we have skilled and experienced therapists working for treatment of coma patients and have got some success in bringing few patients out of coma and back to their normal life after coma.

Purpose of Coma Stimulation

Coma recovery programs aim to provide multiple sensory stimulation to patients in coma or vegetative state. It is hoped that with intense and repetitive stimulation, the patient will awaken and return to a higher level of functioning

The theoretical underpinning of coma stimulation therapy is based on the adaptability or plasticity of the brain.

Coma Recovery Program typically includes multiple sensory inputs based on initial assessment by specialized therapist. Some of sensory stimulations are listed here.

• - Tactile (Touch sense) stimulation
• - Visual (Eyes/ Vision sense) stimulation
• - Olfactory ( Smell Sense) stimulation
• - Gustatory (Food/ taste sense) stimulation
• - Vestibular ( Gravity and Movement sense) stimulation
• - Kinesthetic ( Joint position and movement sense) stimulation
• - Auditory (Ear/ Hearing sense) stimulation

Further reading :

International coma recovery institution (I.C.R.I)