ISST Unna

Institute for Special Systemic Therapy

Speech Therapy and Rehabilitation

The Institute for Specialised Systemic Therapy – ISST Unna – sees itself as a competent provider of therapies to promote and restore the health of patients. We focus on the rehabilitation of speech, language, voice, breathing, swallowing, learning, movement, brain performance, nerve function, pain, hearing, dizziness, sleep, snoring and sleep apnoea.

The ISST

The team at ISST can look back with pride on more than thirty years of successful work with patients of all ages from over ninety countries around the world. Neurophysiological therapy methods and patented technical aids developed and applied at ISST are respected internationally. The successful work at ISST is documented by numerous media reports and an impressive list of scientific publications.

Sabine Berndsen
Managing Director

Dr. Klaus Berndsen
Scientific Director

We look forward to an intensive, cooperative partnership with our patients!

The ISST was founded in 1984 by Dr Klaus Berndsen and Sabine Berndsen in Unna. Under the influence of many years of therapeutic experience, consistent research activities, co-operation with universities, clinics and international specialists, Berndsen/Berndsen developed new diagnostic and therapeutic methods as well as technical aids for sick and disabled people. Their methods and devices became internationally recognised. Public media reported on them worldwide. As authors, Berndsen/Berndsen published numerous scientific articles. They have been granted patents for medical technology devices.

Our team

The innovative team at ISST has a high level of technical and practical expertise. Modern technical aids, their own patents, functional rooms and a stylish ambience support the therapists’ work. The team works with a high level of commitment, continuity and on the basis of the latest scientific research. This enables the best possible results to be achieved. The ISST is organised in a manageable, informal setting in terms of space and staff. This means that the important, familiar contact between patients and therapists can always be guaranteed. ISST patients come from all over the world. The ISST team speaks English, French, Spanish, Russian and Arabic. Suitable interpreters and nursing staff are available.

Location of our practice

We were not born in Unna, but we have enjoyed being here for a very long time. We enjoy the freedom, openness, interdisciplinary networking and diversity. As creative people, we are inspired by the cultural highlights, such as the International Light Art Museum. Bad ideas fade under the impression of this fantastic art. We use good ones for our ideas, imagination, our actions and our patients.

Success for patients and users

We work for the success of our patients, not for our own glorification. We learn from them and optimise our qualifications not only through professional training, but also through a competent analysis of the various problems and the associated constant creative development and adaptation of individual aids.

How we work

We don’t just look at and treat the symptoms of illness, but instead we adapt to the individual patient and always look for the causes of their problems. Together with the patient, we create a therapy situation based on partnership, in which the patient is comprehensively informed about the connections between causes and therapy. Mutual respect and acceptance are important factors here. Our treatments take into account the complex mechanisms of the human organism, the psyche and important – old and new – findings from general research and brain research.

With the head to the goal

Special attention is paid to the numerous interactive functions of the head and neck region with effects on breathing, eating, drinking, swallowing, hearing, metabolism, nerve functions, body balance and body statics. Based on the treatment, we work with patients to develop strategies that prevent recurrences and have a positive effect on health and enjoyment of life.

Ideas and creativity

Ideas for new methods and projects are often derived from intensive work with patients. For example, we developed new therapeutic approaches and medical technology aids that were urgently needed to quickly and effectively improve patients’ quality of life. These patients suffered, for example, from severe swallowing disorders, tinnitus, pain, etc.. Some of these developments are used worldwide today.

We also developed speech aids for laryngectomees, communicators for non-speaking people, breathing aids, devices for learning or relearning to walk or body motor skills and products such as FaceFormer, LoopCup, hearing aids, Communicator, devices with intermittent heat effect against neck pain, back pain, shoulder pain, seat cushions with spring systems against decubitus, measuring devices for hearing checks and tinnitus measurement, electronic noise protection and others. Some of these products have been patented.

Selection of our staff

When selecting our employees, we place the highest value on a combination of professional expertise and an active value orientation in our thoughts and actions.

Everyone in our team has first-class training, experience and the talent to match.

Important character traits such as punctuality, reliability and honesty are further foundations for working with our partners.

Development into an international centre for rehabilitation

The numerous specialisations that have developed at ISST-Unna over more than 30 years have given rise to complex rehabilitation therapies.

Initially, patients with Down syndrome, lip-jaw-nose malformations, swallowing disorders, speech disorders, voice disorders, stuttering, autism, developmental delays, hearing disorders, tinnitus, dizziness, misaligned teeth, misaligned jaws, temporomandibular joint pain, facial pain, shoulder pain, neck pain or patients with strokes were treated here. Today, patients with severe disabilities from different parts of the world come to ISST-Unna: physical disabilities, brain diseases, accident injuries and various syndromes.

Methods such as Neuro-Cell-Stimulation-Therapy (NCST), FaceFormer-Therapy (FFT), PhilPaso Therapy (PPT) were developed by us especially for these patients.

Dr Klaus and Sabine Berndsen are often invited by international clinics to work with patients and explain the treatments.

Professional presentation

We are happy to engage in professional and ethical discussions on an equal footing and rely on logic, analysis and experience. We counter ignorant dogmatism with dialectical argumentation. We welcome invitations to information and expert forums or your opinions and questions in the form of block contributions.

What we do not respond to

Destructive arguments to demarcate inappropriate hierarchical positions or superfluous authority destroy the discourse. Disputes with them only benefit the aggressor. You would be one step closer to your goal of destroying important innovative initiatives. We ignore them as a matter of principle.