title: An optic micro-switch for an eyelid response to foster environmental control in children with minimal motor behaviour.
abstract: This study assessed whether two children (11.9- and 9.7-years-old) with profound multiple disabilities and minimal motor behaviour could learn to control environmental stimulation using an eyelid response with a newly developed micro-switch. The response consisted of raising the eyelid markedly (i.e. by looking upward or opening the eyes widely). The micro-switch developed for this target response consisted of an electronically regulated optic sensor mounted on an eyeglasses' frame. Data showed that the children learned the target eyelid response to activate the micro-switch and to increase their level of environmental stimulation. Responding was largely maintained at a 2-month post-intervention check. These results indicate that continued work in this area has positive implications for the rehabilitation of children with most serious disabilities.
authors.affiliation: University of Bari, Italy. g.lancioni@psico.uniba.it
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Lancioni
authors.forename: N N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: O'Reilly
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sigafoos
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Oliva
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Costantini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gatto
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Marinelli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Putzolu
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003143:Communication Devices for People with Disabilities; D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004777:Environment; D005143:Eyelids / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012656:Self-Help Devices; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric