title: Technology-based intervention programs to promote stimulation control and communication in post-coma persons with different levels of disability.
abstract: Post-coma persons in a minimally conscious state and with extensive motor impairment or emerging/emerged from such a state, but affected by lack of speech and motor impairment, tend to be passive and isolated. A way to help them develop functional responding to control environmental events and communication involves the use of intervention programs relying on assistive technology. This paper provides an overview of technology-based intervention programs for enabling the participants to (a) access brief periods of stimulation through one or two microswitches, (b) pursue stimulation and social contact through the combination of a microswitch and a sensor connected to a speech generating device (SGD) or through two SGD-related sensors, (c) control stimulation options through computer or radio systems and a microswitch, (d) communicate through modified messaging or telephone systems operated via microswitch, and (e) control combinations of leisure and communication options through computer systems operated via microswitch. Twenty-six studies, involving a total of 52 participants, were included in this paper. The intervention programs were carried out using single-subject methodology, and their outcomes were generally considered positive from the standpoint of the participants and their context. Practical implications of the programs are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulio E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Lancioni
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational Science, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bosco
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, "La Sapienza" University Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olivetti Belardinelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior, Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University Augusta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Nirbhay N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Special Education, University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Mark F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: O'Reilly
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sigafoos
authors.affiliation: Lega F. D'Oro Research Center Osimo, Italy.
authors.forename: Doretta
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Oliva
keywords: communication; emergence from minimally conscious state; leisure; minimally conscious state; stimulation; technology-based programs