I'm making a program for seizure-induced confusion/amnesia and I need naming help

[Mantis]

I have temporal lobe epilepsy. I have more "focal" seizures than tonic-clonic. In fact, I have several focal seizures a week and since I work from home, this has caused problems. I'll explain the software first...

I'm making it for my personal use but I'd like to share it with others. After my seizures, even the "passive" ones, I become confused. This is very irritating when I'm talking to somebody through instant messaging. (It won't help with voice chat.) I often try to reply to people, but it's nonsensical and quite frankly, makes me look bonkers! My software is easy to use and copies various responses to the Windows "clipboard", so anybody can simply paste the "goodbye" (for example, "Sorry but I've got to go, I'll catch you later!") in their Skype, IRC, whatever messaging program.

Currently it has a stupid name though. I've named it the "Focal Response Tool", which is quite robotic. :? Also, I'm not sure what conditions exactly, but this might help people who have other problems outside of epilepsy so I'd like to use a less specific name, but I can't think of one.

How many people here suffer from this problem? I know the confusion is more prevalent with TLE, but I'm sure it's in other forms of epilepsy, and I know I'm not the only person here who hates having to write to people when it's a big challenge to string together just a few words! When I finish the program (in the next day or two) it'll be a lifesaver for me.

Thanks.

 

[Missing Mustangs]

how about
1. Robot pen
2. Blank pieces
3. fill in the link
4. recycle fun
5. serving news
6. catching smiles
7. catching a space

I am interested, if its okay. You mentioned that you work from home, I am looking into that myself. I am wondering if you would be willing to tell me how you got that job or what you do? It would really help me. I am struggling. If you need more ideas for what to call the program, let me know. I like doing things like that.

 

[AlohaBird]

Could your software have customized one button responses such as, "Sorry to cut you off but I'm not feeling so great, I'll call you later"?

Although I rarely have this problem since my seizures are nocturnal I think that's a great idea.

As far as naming it goes............how about "What I would say if I could" or "Phrase Finder"

 

[Cint]

I have temporal lobe epilepsy.

How many people here suffer from this problem? I know the confusion is more prevalent with TLE, but I'm sure it's in other forms of epilepsy, and I know I'm not the only person here who hates having to write to people when it's a big challenge to string together just a few words!

I, too, have TLE, and suffer from aphasia (word finding). Sometimes I'm mid-sentence, trying to find the correct word(s), then I lose my train of thought completely. Soooooo frustrating. I don't feel I need to write to people to explain myself. I just send them info from www.epilepsy.com. But your idea is great, also. As far as names for your program, how about:
1) Choosing words
2) Phraseology
3) Verbalize

 

[Mantis]

Thanks for the responses. In the meantime I've gone with Epiclear. I know it sounds like some kind of commercial spray, so consider it a working title. Those are interesting suggestions. I particularly like "Verbalize", or "Verbalise" as we'd say in the UK.

There are ten random "general" goodbyes. Below this I'll add a button for "goodnight" messages. Then I might add one for messages that specifically state a person is feeling ill. This would be separate because I for one don't want to disclose my illness to everybody. (Not that there's anything wrong with epilepsy but I don't like receiving pity if you understand that.)

Edit: I wanted to post screenshots of the program but I'm unable to post links or images. I can understand why, though. Try this: imgur.com/a/QNfJ0

As said, it's a prototype and I've still got to add the goodnight and illness messages. In addition to this, as AlohaBird seemed to suggest (I think) I'll add custom messages. I might colour-code these to help people who are affected more strongly by these seizures so they can associate colours with particular messages. I'll release the program when it's in a beta state.

You mentioned that you work from home, I am looking into that myself. I am wondering if you would be willing to tell me how you got that job or what you do? It would really help me. I am struggling. If you need more ideas for what to call the program, let me know. I like doing things like that.

I'd be glad to help. This is pretty much all I can do until I get the (practically promised and I'll be devastated if it doesn't happen) surgery this year. I'm a game and software designer, though I'm still in the process of making my first game. I've been hired to make programs however. I use Clickteam Fusion 2.5, but there are many other options such as Construct 2 or Unity that allow design-oriented non-programmers to make games and apps.

There are many other things you can do though, too. You can also learn from home using sites like Udemy, that often have sales and sell courses for $10 or £8.

I, too, have TLE, and suffer from aphasia (word finding). Sometimes I'm mid-sentence, trying to find the correct word(s), then I lose my train of thought completely. Soooooo frustrating. I don't feel I need to write to people to explain myself.

Yes, it affects me verbally too from time to time. It can be pretty awkward when it happens when I've had to talk to the postman, pizza guy, or a taxi driver. I just can't talk at all. As for written communication, sometimes I've only been able to write things like "ill" to people who know me. For those who don't, sometimes I want to present a "healthy" image during online communications, like in business for example. People can assume I'm being rude if I sudden leave them hanging. I know I'm lying a bit by using this program, but the alternative is hard to explain no matter how much we try to justify it. I really wish explaining epilepsy was easy.

 

[Dutch mom]

EpiComm? (Communication?)

 

[Mantis]

That's good, but now that Cint has mentioned aphasia, I've been exploring articles on the condition. Honestly, I just thought it was a part of TLE (and other forms) all these years and I didn't know there was a name for the problem. So perhaps I should change the name to something like Aphaclear. (Perhaps substitute "clear" for something else.) But then again, even though I do tend to suffer from smaller seizures most days that cause the "word finding" problem, most of the time I can write fine. Hmmmmm.

 

[AlohaBird]

Aphasia can be caused by many conditions in addition to epilepsy particularly any kind of stroke.

I like the idea of having the name have something to do with aphasia as that could broaden your market niche.

How about a cross between "Aphaclear" and "Verbalise"? "Aphalise"? 'Aphorate"? "Aphagram"?

Cool idea. Keep us posted if you get it into production.


ETA: What about "Aphagraph"? Combines "aphasia" with "graph" for writing.

 

[Cint]

Aphasia can be caused by many conditions in addition to epilepsy particularly any kind of stroke.

:agree: My father had a stroke about 15 years after I had my surgery and he suffered with word finding (aphasia), too. So when he had the stroke, I was the one in the family who had to educate everyone about it. But having E without having surgery can definitely bring it on, due to seizure after seizure.

 

[Matthew74]

:scholar:

I don't have my greek dictionary, but according to Wikipedia "Phemi" (φημί) means "I speak"

"aphasia" is from a-phasis > phasis (n ) > phemi (v)

You could call it "Phemi" = I speak

or in latin:

"verbum" = word
"verbi" = words
"loquor" = I speak
"contendo" = I assert, speak passionately
"scribo" or "inscribo" = I write

Or you could call it:

***DEFOGGER ALPHA BETA ZETA 2,000***


and have some guy with a headset advertise it (loudly)

or, as I often find myself saying...

"Umm..."
"Uh, what's that thing that...?"
"The thingamabob."
"Just a minute, it'll come to me..."

 

[AlohaBird]

"The thingamabob."
"Just a minute, it'll come to me..."

You mean the whosiwhatsit or the whatchamacallit.

The Hawaiians have a pidgin term for that. They call it "da kine".

 

[Nakamova]

Name suggestions:
"Cyrano" (Since he acted as a proxy speaker/writer for another)
"Rephrasia"
"Intendo" (Since it conveys what you intended to say)
"Lexi" (as in lexicon)

 

[Alberta]

Aphasia feels most irritating when a word cannot be found and it jumps into your mind long after it is needed. Also, it is a pain when the word is in my mind but a different one comes out!?! Why use the word 'clear' when the mind does not feel clear?

 

[Alberta]

As a side question, is the amnesia seizure induced or medication induced? After experiencing amnesia off and on for the last 2 years, it turned out to be a side effect that clobazam can cause after long term use.

 

[Nakamova]

As a side question, is the amnesia seizure induced or medication induced?

It can be either or both. Long-term or intermittent issues with recall or encoding can be caused by both meds and by seizure damage to the areas of the brain that deal with memory.
If you suspect seizure- or med-related cognitive issues, it can sometimes help to have a neuropsych evaluation done.

 

[seagull]

Aphasia feels most irritating when a word cannot be found and it jumps into your mind long after it is needed. Also, it is a pain when the word is in my mind but a different one comes out!?! Why use the word 'clear' when the mind does not feel clear?

Very true I have same and I long time user of cloberzam.It drives me to insanity