Persons with acquired brain injury and multiple disabilities access stimulation independently through microswitch-based technology.

Abstract

The possibility of enabling two adults with acquired brain injury and profound multiple disabilities to use microswitch-based technology to attain preferred environmental stimuli on their own was assessed. Each of the participants was provided with two microswitches that could be activated by right and left head-turning or head-bending responses. The microswitches were introduced sequentially according to a multiple probe design across microswitches (responses) and allowed access to different sets of auditory or visual stimuli. Eventually, the two microswitches were made available simultaneously. Sessions lasted 5 min. Each participant learned to use the two microswitches successfully and maintained consistent levels of responding when they were simultaneously available. During this phase, both participants showed large within-session variations in their right and left response frequencies, with one of them showing an overall prevalence of the left-side response. The importance of assistive technology within programs for persons with acquired brain injury and multiple disabilities is discussed.

• Authors: Giulio E Lancioni, Nirbhay N Singh, Mark F O'Reilly, Jeff Sigafoos, Francesca Buonocunto, Valentina Sacco, Ida D'Agostino, Jorge Navarro, Luigi M Addante
• Journal: Perceptual and motor skills (Percept Mot Skills) Vol. 111 Issue 2 Pg. 485-95 (Oct 2010) ISSN: 0031-5125 [Print] United States
• PMID: 21162450 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Acoustic Stimulation
• Aged
• Brain Damage, Chronic (psychology, rehabilitation)
• Brain Injury, Chronic (psychology, rehabilitation)
• Cerebral Infarction (psychology, rehabilitation)
• Communication Aids for Disabled
• Disabled Persons (psychology, rehabilitation)
• Equipment Design
• Female
• Functional Laterality
• Head Movements
• Humans
• Male
• Microtechnology
• Middle Aged
• Photic Stimulation