The individual with high quadriplegia.
Persons with quadriplegia resulting from disease or trauma have an array of disabling impairments that involve virtually every body system. During the rehabilitation process, each impairment is addressed. This article presents alternatives in three areas: respiration, communication, and environmental control. The importance of tailoring strategies to the individual is emphasized throughout. Appropriate rehabilitation of the person with high quadriplegia goes beyond maintenance of life and health. An interdisciplinary team that includes the patient unites dreams, knowledge, skills, and technology so that the patient has the possibility of noninstitutional living, major control over his or her own destiny, some autonomy, and participation in a full spectrum of life activities. As Maddox noted: "Life is a fragile, fleeting thing, under any circumstances, and living it can be comic or tragic, weird or wonderful--regardless of one's motor limitations."
Kirby
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Division of Rehabilitation Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
D003143:Communication Devices for People with Disabilities; D004777:Environment; D006801:Humans; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000451:nursing*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000379:methods