Maltese man invents ‘special’ autism aid
The inventor and the invention: autism can be aided by simply wearing a high-tech headband. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi
Autism can now be “aided” through a Maltese researcher’s brainwave: an invention that has been proven to improve relaxation and focus.
Its creator, Dr Adrian Attard Trevisan, insists his ground-breaking headband, known as Mente, is not a cure for autism. He calls it a “special aid”, improving autistic children’s ability to be more in touch with their surroundings by 500 per cent.
What resembles a simple headband, with two electrodes – highly sensitive microphones that record signals from the skull – allows autistic children who normally feel tense and uncomfortable in social settings to be more receptive.
It has to be worn for 40-minute sessions every day, Dr Attard Trevisan explained, since the effect fades away after sleeping.
He has been back in Malta for a year and, with his partner Alex Grech, has set up AAT Research Ltd in Mosta, employing six engineers and biomedical engineers to combine medicine and business.
The 28-year-old, who has a doctorate in neuroscience from University College London and is starting a second PhD, spent almost five years developing the EEG (electroencephalography) technology, which has a worldwide patent.
He has even written a book on it, called Introduction to Brain Music System, and the technology is being distributed in the US.
The technology controls the “small power station in the brain”. It works by recording brainwave level in real time, sending the information to computer software and providing an EEG representation of before, after and during the 40-minute session, which is then analysed.
“In autistic people, the delta brainwave, one of four, which is associated with sleep and closed eyes, peaks constantly, even when they are awake, leaving them in their own world. Mente uses an auditory system to suppress these waves,” Dr Attard Trevisan explained.
In UK trials, questions were sent to learning support assistants and speech pathologists working with autism to understand how any changes were perceived.
They noticed a difference, particularly in attitude, saying the autistic people they worked with were more receptive, Dr Attard Trevisan said.
He chose to use his neuroscience knowledge to tackle autism when he was working in France’s European Space Agency and met a family whose child had Asperger syndrome, a variant of the disorder.
The resulting invention, which is about to hit the Maltese market, is supported by the Autism Parents Association. The head of the Child Development Assessment Unit will be addressing the launch.
Mente targets the whole spectrum of autism and is designed for home use. Distributed by Technoline, it costs about €500 but a number are being given out to those who need it but cannot afford it.
Spectacles that can beat pain
Mente is not AAT Research’s first invention. Products in the pipeline include a device for epilepsy that sends parents a warning through a phone call 45 minutes before a fit, which could help avoid a fatality.
This may seem like the stuff of fairy tales, but the research house is also tackling pain management through wearing spectacles that overload neuroreceptors.
After a session, pain is not felt for several hours, Dr Attard Trevisan said, adding that the spectacles could complement morphine for cancer patients.
AAT Research is also working on the Sorriso project with the University of Milan, where it is incorporated as a research institute.
It tackles facial paralysis, allowing surgeons to get a picture of a person’s smile to be aware of the location of various muscles during an intervention.
Using an EEG head cap, patients imagine their smile and it pops up on a monitor.
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48 Comments
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Francis Buhagiar
Sep 17th 2012, 11:06
Dear Dr. Adrian,
I am very impressed by your work. I did some background research but was not able to find any information regarding your Doctorate in Neuroscience at UCL. Which UCL department did you work in and what was the title of your PhD thesis? When did you defend your PhD thesis (get your title) and who was your PhD supervisor? Could you also send me a link to your full research articles (not abstract submissions) and include the name of the peer-reviewed journals and the date/issue number when they were published? Also, which department of the European Space Agency did you work in, what was the name of the head of your department at the ESA and what was your role there?
Thank you
Adrian Attard Trevisan
Sep 18th 2012, 17:37
Dear Mr Buhagiar
First of all let me thank you for the interest and keen research you did . Most probably you couldn't access the papers ( and could just view an abstract) if you are not a member of any journal subscription system ( such as Athens), as for any abstract there is always an actual associated publication . Please contact our assistants at the company on [email protected] or [email protected] . A copy of both my thesis and my papers I would imagine that can be sent over , even if papers are available on www.aatresearch.org . I'm quite fresh out of my doctorate so indeed I would be also very passionate in meeting and chatting about it ( I need to thank the APA for their support during the last 3 to 4 years working on it , as I was quite in touch with a number of their members over the past years and it did deal with what today became known as the Mente and Brain Music System) .
Regarding collaborators I had over the years on the project , would usually be written as Second Authors on our publications . Also I need not to forget to say that in reality this is not " me" coming up with this system , but a team of people , that nowadays are employed under the company AAT Research Ltd , and we are fully focused working on research for new applications and EU / University funded projects.
I do apologize for viewing this comment just now , but I'm currently quite busy as I'm planning to join the team of Professor Paolo Cavallari at the Department of Morfologia Umana at the Faculty of Medicine within the University of Milan ( as I will be entering a new doctoral programme ) for a new project that will keep myself and our team very busy for the next 3 years.
Please do drop us a line or call during office hours on 21330588 and come visit us should you need further information.
Kindly notice that the reason our company doesn't have anything to do with any sales of devices is to actually keep a certain level of impartiality into whatever we work on and produce.
Regards
Adrian
Jonathan Camilleri
Aug 29th 2012, 19:47
According to Dr. Mark Xuereb, practising pscyhiatrist, there is no strong evidence of the effectiveness of this innovative headband to date that makes it recommendable for people affected by autism.
The price of this headband is €500 + VAT, and this is indicative that the resellers might be still skimming the market.
Doreen Falzon
Aug 28th 2012, 20:41
This is truely something that parents with children with autism have to look into. Congratulations for the great invention. I have only one problem. This is something that has to be worn on the brain. It will be very difficult with persons with severe autism to leave a band on their head. It is always very difficult to have a CT scan or something similar. My son always refuses to have electrodes attached to his head. I would really like to try this on my son, who finds it very difficult adjusting to any new situation. Thank you.
vanessa grech
Aug 27th 2012, 20:26
proset proset hafna nixtieq kuntat biex inkun naf x nista namghel biex naplika ghalija ghat tifel tieghi
francis mallia
Aug 27th 2012, 12:12
fantastic news for all sufferers;well done dr x best wishes for the future
Charlie DeBattista
Aug 27th 2012, 11:38
Impressive! Well done!
Tanja Cilia
Aug 27th 2012, 11:28
A conference is being held at The Palace next Friday evening regarding this. Booking required: Contact person for booking Graziella Aquilina, 21344345.
David Dingli
Aug 27th 2012, 09:59
This is truly incredible. Dr.Adrian, you are at the forefront of cutting edge technology & Science and no doubt you and your team possess highly innovative and creative capabilities. My concern, and I have no doubt I will get critised for suggesting this, is that I don't beleive Malta is the best place in the world for you to have set up your research company. You need to be in a location where clusters of similar companies are gathering, where other (similar) research institutes are being set up, where Universities can offer you support and where you have access to the best people in the world. Needless to say.. you must also take your team of Maltese experts with you. Only in this way will you ever become a leading world class innovative organisation, if that is your ultimate goal. Whatever you choose to do good luck. I totally admire talent at this level and will use you as an example in my next lectures on Entrepreneurship & Innovation.
Amanda Kidd
Aug 27th 2012, 08:59
How fantastic! Prosit!!
Sean Swain
Aug 27th 2012, 08:31
WOW - Impressive stuff! Well done and congratulations Adrian!
Carmel agius
Aug 27th 2012, 04:21
i have friends that will benifit from this, great work.
Mr Peter Korsten
Aug 27th 2012, 03:29
As a parent of a child with high-functioning autism, naturally this sort of thing piques my interest. And lo and behold, we even received a letter from this company, inviting us to a presentation on the product.
However, a search on Google (and I pride myself on being pretty good at finding things via Google) shows no articles, at all, about the 'Brain Music System' that haven't been written by Dr Attard Trevisan. What you do find is his book on Amazon, and a scathing review of it. Apparently, 'book' is using the word loosely.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Introduction-System-Adrian-Attard-Trevisan/dp/1446714837
I'd like to see some peer reviews of his publications and of this product.
Adrian Attard Trevisan
Aug 27th 2012, 08:35
Dear Mr Korsten
Thanks for your feedback . In terms of the review , I will see what the problem is about them . If you manage to go to sciverse.com ( which is the database of peer reviewed journals , you will find a couple of peer reviewed publications , of course written by myself ) . If you need a Neurofeedback , and this system is a type of Sonified Neurofeedback :
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1300/J184v06n04_05
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1300/J184v01n01_08
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1750946708001335
http://journals.lww.com/intjrehabilres/Abstract/2005/06000/Effects_of_electroencephalogram_biofeedback_with.10.aspx
http://www.springerlink.com/content/j4527w5777550051/
Should you need further information , please do not hesitate to call our offices on 21330588 .
Regards
Adrian
Tony Camilleri
Aug 27th 2012, 08:50
Just as one swallow does not a summer make, so does one negative comment not make it all negative.
E Schembri
Aug 27th 2012, 10:35
He may not be a great author, but if his inventions works he surely is a great scientist!!!
Well done!
Tony Cappello
Aug 27th 2012, 01:44
Most Excellent...my grandson has Aspergers syndrome and as anyone who has a child /relative who is afflicted with this ,knows they can be very challenging... I have forwarded this article on to my daughter and we will follow this up...I will be visiting my family in Malta next month and if possible , (and if our reseach warrants it , I will purchase this product . Anything that can help my grandson progress toward a happier more "normal" life is worth investigating...#fingerscrossed..... glad to hear that a Maltese doctor is making strides in this arena.
Chris Cascun
Aug 27th 2012, 00:52
Great work... well deserved!
Silvio Abela
Aug 26th 2012, 20:23
Well done to the inventor and his team.
Matthew Grima
Aug 26th 2012, 20:04
Great, can't wait to learn more about this.
Christopher Debattista
Aug 26th 2012, 19:49
Tal-Blieh ! Prosit Adrian. May God bless you. You're truly a very gifted person !
Claire Abela
Aug 26th 2012, 18:14
Impressive work. Well done Adrian.
Ms Sylvia Zammit
Aug 26th 2012, 18:12
This is just great - it will make life so much easier for the ever growing number who have autistic traits.
Charles Vella
Aug 26th 2012, 16:30
Looking forward for the launching of this product - Congratulations Dr Trevisan and your team on your research- God bless you all
m. borg (slm)
Aug 26th 2012, 16:20
Verygood nrews which in today's world is very rare
Roberta Ferrante
Aug 26th 2012, 15:19
Dr. Attard Trevisan, you are a genius! Thanks to you and your team for such wonderful news! Well done!
Dorris geddes
Aug 26th 2012, 15:12
Awesome ! Well done! So very many are going to benefit from this...
Yasmin Galea
Aug 26th 2012, 15:01
Could you provide us with more information please as to whom to contact? This could mean a lot to a variety of people from all walks of live.
MALCOLM SEYCHELL
Aug 26th 2012, 14:56
Well done Adrian. These people make us proud
S.M. Cuschieri
Aug 26th 2012, 14:39
People like Dr. Attard Trevisan make me so very proud!! Well done!!
M Darmanin
Aug 26th 2012, 14:24
Now this is really what I call good news .... may it bring some serenity to the users and their families for everyone will gain from this. Prosit and do keep up the good work.
Philip Mizzi
Aug 26th 2012, 14:23
Cannot help but notice the lack of 'non-maltese' people commenting on such scientific achievements (so far at least) in these blogs. But when we (Maltese) critises ourselves for our shortcomings in these blog columns, there is always the quick odd foreigner or two that adds their comment to show disgust as if we are the only nation that have shortcomings u nuqqasijiet ohra!
Self criticism shows maturity as long as it does not imply that we are in some ways less than any other nation.
A Spiteri
Aug 26th 2012, 14:13
i'm a parent of an autistic child and although I'm reading this article with great interest, i'm sure it is a bit early to come up with any conclusion for this product.
there are hundreds of products out there that claim to help children with autism and i've become skeptical about anything!
i hope people who work with our children can come up with some study...cause if it really works it will really help us, whatever the price!
anyway...a big well done to you mr attard trevisan and your team!
Claire Abela
Aug 26th 2012, 14:12
Impressive work. Well done Adrian.
Peter Midler
Aug 26th 2012, 13:58
Well done Dr Adrian Attard Trevisan, your work will surely benefit those that suffer autism and their parents.
Well done also for your research and success in the field of pain management and epilepsy. I am sure that those that will benefit from your work will be most grateful.
Karen Pace
Aug 26th 2012, 13:56
Well done to everyone involved in producing such a useful product. I hope it will be of benefit to children both in Malta and abroad.
Philip Mizzi
Aug 26th 2012, 13:50
To my knowledge this is the second Maltese researcher / scientist making success in a field where to this day and age it is still very little understood. I am referring to the brain and its mysterious mechanisms.
The other person which is also making a name for himself and for his homeland is Christopher James another very clever Maltese scientist / academic researching particular fields of the brain.
Their work will undoubtedly benefit not only this little island but also all humanity. Well done and as we say .... ‘PROSIT ahna kburin bikhom’!
Jane Clare
Aug 26th 2012, 20:47
I believe that Dr Zrinzo is also a world class Maltese brain surgeon even though he practices in London?
Philip Mizzi
Aug 26th 2012, 23:06
You are right Ms Jane Clare. Dr Zrinzo is also a renouned world class surgeon in DBS or Deep Brain Stimulation. This involves electrically stimulating parts of the brain by having electrodes inserted in specific part of the brain. A special battery (like a pacemaker) is placed under the skin in the upper chestof the patient and the electrodes are permanently connected under the skin to this battery. The electrical impulses drastically mitigate the effects of Parkinson's disease and make a great difference to Parkinson suffers.
Not being a medical person I apologise if the above does not use the correct terminology.
leo briffa
Aug 26th 2012, 12:42
I am very happy that a Maltese person is thinking out of the box, and this is the way to go forward.....never give up. excellent work Sir.
Neville Bonavia
Aug 26th 2012, 11:32
Well Done to the entire team of researchers.
Toni Muscat
Aug 26th 2012, 11:24
Well done !
R Axisa
Aug 26th 2012, 11:18
Wow! This is really a good invention for the benefit of persons. Well done.
Frank Chetcuti
Aug 26th 2012, 10:51
This is good news that makes us feel good as parents of these children. can any one pass more information where we can get more details
B. Storace
Aug 26th 2012, 10:47
We have them in Malta too you know........................very clever and forward looking people, that is. Congratulations to you and the team.
Franco Attard Trevisan
Aug 26th 2012, 10:33
thumbs up! :)
D Fenech
Aug 26th 2012, 10:29
Well done!!!! This brought tears to my eye I work with children with special needs and I can not even begin to imagine what parents of children with ASD will feel if their children will at least be able to look at them when they call their names. Prosit and being a Maltese doctor double Prosit!!!!!
Michael Mercieca
Aug 26th 2012, 10:06
WOW... I am impressed! Keep up the good work.
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