Assistive technology (AT) includes many products and services that help people with disabilities or chronic health problems live more on their own and take part in school, work, and social activities. It covers physical items like hearing aids, wheelchairs, prosthetic limbs, eyeglasses, and white canes. It also includes software and systems such as speech recognition, screen readers, voice commands, and tools that help with thinking.
Rehabilitation uses assistive technology along with therapies to help people get back or improve their abilities after injury or illness. AI technologies are becoming more important in this area by helping with diagnosis, patient monitoring, personalized therapies, and managing healthcare better.
More than 240 million children worldwide have disabilities. Over 90% of these children in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) do not have the assistive technology they need. This causes big problems in their education, social life, and overall well-being. For example, children with disabilities are about 47% more likely to miss primary school compared to children without disabilities, and they often have trouble learning reading and math skills without the right assistive tools.
The main barriers to access in LMICs include:
Programs to reduce costs exist, such as UNICEF’s work in Rwanda, where hearing aid prices went from $2,000 to $118. This helped many children get hearing devices for the first time. Investing in assistive technology in LMICs can give a return of about $9 for every $1 spent, with each child earning roughly $100,000 more in lifetime income when they get the needed devices.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) can do tasks that usually need human thinking. It uses computer programs to analyze data, predict results, and automate work. In rehabilitation, AI:
AI tools assist human experts by giving data-based support. They do not replace rehabilitation professionals but offer personalized help and feedback to make rehabilitation better.
AI can expand how assistive technology works in LMICs. AI programs inside smart devices like digital hearing aids and speech recognition software can change to fit each user’s needs. These tools make assistive devices easier to use, cheaper, and more available.
For example, Rwanda’s Winsiga Ndumva program uses AI-enabled hearing aids in primary health care. It has tested thousands of children for hearing problems and given out over a thousand affordable digital devices. AI helps less specialized health workers diagnose and screen patients, reaching more people where experts are few.
Global projects like the Global Disability Innovation Hub, UNICEF’s AT2030 program, and ATscale invest in AI-driven assistive technology. They work on improving markets, policies, and funding to close gaps in technology access.
Spending on AI-enhanced assistive technology brings social and economic benefits. Early use of hearing aids, for example, helps language development and school success. This leads to better job chances and higher lifetime earnings.
At the community level, this means lower healthcare and support costs and more people able to work. These benefits are very important for LMICs to meet goals for health, education, and economic growth.
In the United States, healthcare groups working globally or with LMIC partners can help by supporting assistive technology innovations that use AI. Knowing how AI tools work and affect underserved groups helps US administrators and IT staff improve technology sharing and partnerships.
In US healthcare, AI is changing not only clinical work but also administrative tasks and operations. Automating front-office work with AI can make patient management, appointment scheduling, and communication better.
Companies such as Simbo AI make AI phone systems that answer calls and handle patient contacts efficiently. This lets office staff focus on other tasks. This is helpful in rehab centers with many patients, where good communication affects how well care is given.
Using AI tools like Simbo AI’s system, practices can:
These improvements support AI’s clinical benefits and help make care faster, more organized, and focused on patients.
Some people worry that AI will replace human workers in rehab and assistive technology. It’s important to say that AI helps and supports clinical decisions and patient involvement. For administrators and IT managers, it is key to balance adding new technology with staff training and making sure people understand AI well.
Challenges include:
Continued education, clear rules, and good testing help reduce these problems. Organizations such as the WHO support training and policies for safe and responsible AI use in assistive technology and rehab.
Administrators and IT managers in the US who work in rehab and assistive technology must take part in adopting AI changes for both local and global use. Knowing how AI helps allows them to:
Adding AI should be done carefully to work well with electronic health records (EHR) and follow laws like HIPAA.
The role of AI in rehab and assistive technology will continue to grow as technology improves and investments increase. New AI devices, data analysis, and remote monitoring can make care more available and better everywhere.
US health groups that keep up with these changes and help with development will support a future where assistive technology is cheaper and easier to get for all, including millions of children and adults in LMICs who need care but currently do not have it.
AI is the capability of machines to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, utilizing algorithms to assist in various clinical practices, including rehabilitation.
AI augments patient care by providing assessments, forecasting performance, and establishing diagnoses, making the rehabilitation process more efficient.
AI assists in analyzing and interpreting physiological signals and images in neurological disorders, enhancing diagnostic capabilities for conditions like epilepsy and Parkinson’s.
AI can streamline appointment scheduling and manage patient flow, allowing therapists to focus more on patient care rather than administrative tasks.
Many believe AI will replace therapists, but it primarily serves as a tool to enhance personalized care and outcomes rather than replace human interaction.
Challenges include the need for AI literacy among professionals, ethical concerns, and the integration of AI into existing healthcare systems.
AI literacy enables professionals to effectively use AI technologies, critically evaluate health information, and integrate AI algorithm insights into patient care.
AI offers transformative potential in LMICs by addressing healthcare workforce shortages and improving access to rehabilitation through tools like virtual reality and mobile apps.
AI enhances assistive technology by providing real-time feedback, monitoring patient progress, and personalizing rehabilitation experiences for better outcomes.
AI aids in minimizing medical errors by providing evidence-based insights and improving clinical decision-making processes in healthcare practices.
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