The Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) introduced a smart pen in May called iSULAT, designed to detect neurodevelopmental conditions such as ADHD and autism.

iSULAT, which stands for Intelligence Stroke Utilization Learning Assessment and Testing, was developed by a group of researchers from the University of Santo Tomas (UST).

Dr. Edison Roxas, the project leader of iSULAT, explained how the device functions and how it can detect early signs of developmental conditions through the simple act of writing.

“Habang nagsusulat po iyong mga bata, marami po kaming nakukuhang impormasyon sa kada stroke ng pagsusulat nila. Katulad ng diin ng pagsusulat, diin ng paghawak sa pen, pati iyong anggulo kung paano nila hinahawakan iyong pen. Ina-analyze po namin lahat ng mga features na iyon (While the child is writing, we gather a lot of information from each stroke—like writing pressure, how tightly they grip the pen, even the angle of their handwriting. We analyze all of those features),” Roxas said.

“Meron po kami ngayong nabuo na AI na kung saan binibigyan po tayo ng idea kung meron po bang problema iyong bata base lang sa pagsusulat niya (We have developed an AI that helps us identify if the child may have developmental issues, based solely on their handwriting),” he added.

Roxas emphasized that while handwriting therapy is already a common intervention for conditions like ADHD, access to professional evaluation in the Philippines remains limited due to a shortage of trained therapists.

According to Roxas, the device has received positive feedback from parents and teachers in the schools where it has been tested. Partnered therapists also reported that the pen helps speed up the child evaluation process.

Currently, iSULAT pens are being distributed to three schools in Luzon. The research team hopes to expand its reach, particularly to remote areas of the country. They believe that this innovation could also pave the way for improved assessment of other neurological conditions such as stroke and Parkinson’s disease.