title: Microswitch Technology for Enabling Self-Determined Responding in Children with Profound and Multiple Disabilities: A Systematic Review.
abstract: We reviewed 18 studies reporting on the use of microswitch technology to enable self-determined responding in children with profound and multiple disabilities. Identified studies that met pre-determined inclusion criteria were summarized in terms of (a) participants, (b) experimental design, (c) microswitches and procedures used, and (d) main results. The 18 studies formed three groups based on whether the microswitch technology was primarily intended to enable the child to (a) access preferred stimuli (7 studies), (b) choose between stimuli (6 studies), or (c) recruit attention/initiate social interaction (5 studies). The results of these studies were consistently positive and support the use of microswitch technology in educational programs for children with profound and multiple disabilities as a means to impact their environment and interact with others. Implications for delivery of augmentative and alternative communication intervention to children with profound and multiple disabilities are discussed.
authors: School of Education, Victoria University of Wellington , Wellington , New Zealand.
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Roche
authors: Jeff
authors: J
authors: Sigafoos
authors: Giulio E
authors: GE
authors: Lancioni
authors: Mark F
authors: MF
authors: O'Reilly
authors: Vanessa A
authors: VA
authors: Green
mesh_terms: D003143:Communication Devices for People with Disabilities; D012048:Correction of Hearing Impairment; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation
keywords: Augmentative and alternative communication; Choice making; Intervention research; Microswitch technology; Profound and multiple disabilities; Recruiting attention; Self-determination; Systematic review