How do Hand Tremors Affect You?

Brain and nerves
1

Hello, we are high school students from Severna Park High School currently taking an Engineering course. We decided to focus our project on developing a product that would help solve problems involving difficulties with hand tremors, especially involving handwriting. We would love to hear any feedback you may have for us, and would greatly appreciate if you would kindly share your experiences and difficulties with us for us to get a better idea of how best to create a solution ^.^

Thank you!

2

Hi and thanks so much taking on such a project, to try and engineer something to make a tremor easier to live with is in my eyes is to be highly admired..

I've had a tremor in all my limbs for most of my life but to have hand tremors is extremely disabling indeed. There are quire a few gadgets and utensils already on the market that can help us with most day to day needs, but it might pay to have a look at what's already available and perhaps try to make it even better..

I personally find "weighted" gadgets and especially eating utensils very helpful... Trying to drink soup or feeding myself watery, loose and dry foods using conventional cutlery, even drinking from a coffee mug is very challenging and can also be very embarrassing - often needing to wear an adult feeder to keep my clothing clean, as food and drinks can go almost anywhere..

I now use a drinking strew so I don't spill hot drinks on myself and get badly burned, also I have to be careful with hot foods too..

The most simples of everyday needs are very often the most daunting of tasks; like flossing my teeth and shaving, dressing myself and tying buttons or shoe laces, even simply having a drink of water are now often tasks I have to rely on somebody else to do for me..

Can I suggest you all try wearing bulky oven mitts on both hands for an entire day, trying to simulate what it's like to have very limited use of your hands... Also caring tea trays full of water is another way to simulate what it's like to live with a tremor.. It takes a tremendous amount of construction and I get so fatigued just trying to do the simplest of tasks most days..

Perhaps if you visited someone living with a tremor may also be worthwhile; like someone living with Ecentual tremor, Parkenson's disease or even someone like myself living with Cerebral Palsy, may give you another perspective too..

 I do hope my remarks and suggestions have helped in some way with your project and if you have future questions, I'm only too please to help..

I'll be follow this discussion with a huge deal of interesting and thanks again for your willingness to help..

Mike from New Zealand 

3

Sorry but I don't think I can help you with this.

4

One thing I would find very useful for handwriting would be a " very fat" pen..

About 22mm to 25mm thick, but keeping it somewhere short (no more than150mm), and heavy/weighted if possible idea..

Weight can help to overcome some of the tremor and give stability, often by using a heavy metal added to an object..