title: Analysis of user characteristics related to drop-off detection with long cane.
abstract: This study examined how user characteristics affect drop-off detection with the long cane. A mixed-measures design with block randomization was used for the study, in which 32 visually impaired adults attempted to detect the drop-offs using different cane techniques. Younger cane users detected drop-offs significantly more reliably (mean +/- standard deviation = 74.2% +/- 11.2% of the time) than older cane users (60.9% +/- 10.8%), p = 0.009. The drop-off detection threshold of the younger participants (5.2 +/- 2.1 cm) was also statistically significantly smaller than that of the older participants (7.9 +/- 2.2 cm), p = 0.007. Those with early-onset visual impairment (78.0% +/- 9.0%) also detected drop-offs significantly more reliably than those with later-onset visual impairment (67.3% +/- 12.4%), p = 0.01. No interaction occurred between examined user characteristics (age and age at onset of visual impairment) and the type of cane technique used in drop-off detection. The findings of the study may help orientation and mobility specialists select appropriate cane techniques in accordance with the cane user's age and onset of visual impairment.
authors.affiliation: Western Michigan University, Department of Blindness and Low Vision Studies, Kalamazoo, MI 49002-5218, USA. dae.kim@wmich.edu
authors.forename: Dae Shik
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Robert Wall
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Emerson
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Curtis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D001766:Blindness / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002183:Canes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006804:Ergonomics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012656:Self-Help Devices; D015354:Vision, Low; D055815:Young Adult