Technology to help persons with extensive neuro-motor impairment and lack of speech with their leisure occupation and communication.
These two studies were aimed at extending the assessment of technology-aided programs to enhance leisure occupation or communication with persons with extensive neuro-motor impairment and lack of speech. Specifically, Study I implemented the program for leisure occupation with two post-stroke patients. Study II implemented the program for communication with two persons affected by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In Study I, a computer system presented the participants with a variety of stimuli. The participants could select/access those stimuli by microswitch activation or could bypass them by abstaining from microswitch responses. In Study II, the participants used a computer-aided telephone system that allowed them to choose via microswitch activation the persons to call. On the computer screen, they also had words and phrases that they could activate during the calls to influence the conversation with the persons called. Data from both studies were largely positive. The post-stroke patients showed high levels of stimulus selection (access) and extended engagement. The patients with ALS were able to make phone calls and to select the words/phrases to influence the conversations. The relevance of technology-aided programs for leisure occupation and communication of persons with extensive multiple disabilities was discussed.
University of Bari, Italy. Electronic address: giulio.lancioni@uniba.it.
Giulio E
GE
Lancioni
Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, USA.
Nirbhay N
NN
Singh
University of Texas at Austin, USA.
Mark F
MF
O'Reilly
Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.
Jeff
J
Sigafoos
S. Raffaele Medical Care Center, Alberobello and Modugno, Italy.
Fiora
F
D'Amico
S. Raffaele Medical Care Center, Alberobello and Modugno, Italy.
Luigi M
LM
Addante
Lega F. D'Oro Research Center, Osimo, Italy.
Gabriele
G
Ferlisi
Lega F. D'Oro Research Center, Osimo, Italy.
Valeria
V
Zullo
Lega F. D'Oro Research Center, Osimo, Italy.
Doretta
D
Oliva
University of Bari, Italy.
Marisa
M
Megna
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003143:Communication Devices for People with Disabilities; D003201:Computers; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012656:Self-Help Devices; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D013689:Telephone; D014584:User-Computer Interface
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Communication; Leisure occupation; Neuro-motor impairment; Stroke; Technology