title: Training driving ability in a traumatic brain-injured individual using a driving simulator: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Traumatic brain injury (TBI) causes functional deficits that may significantly interfere with numerous activities of daily living such as driving. We report the case of a 20-year-old woman having lost her driver's license after sustaining a moderate TBI.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an in-simulator training program with automated feedback on driving performance in a TBI individual.
  
  
  METHODS
  The participant underwent an initial and a final in-simulator driving assessment and 11 in-simulator training sessions with driving-specific automated feedbacks. Driving performance (simulation duration, speed regulation and lateral positioning) was measured in the driving simulator.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Speeding duration decreased during training sessions from 1.50 ± 0.80 min (4.16 ± 2.22%) to 0.45 ± 0.15 min (0.44 ± 0.42%) but returned to initial duration after removal of feedbacks for the final assessment. Proper lateral positioning improved with training and was maintained at the final assessment. Time spent in an incorrect lateral position decreased from 18.85 min (53.61%) in the initial assessment to 1.51 min (4.64%) on the final assessment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Driving simulators represent an interesting therapeutic avenue. Considerable research efforts are needed to confirm the effectiveness of this method for driving rehabilitation of individuals who have sustained a TBI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Kinetics; Research Group on Neuromusculoskeletal Dysfunctions (GRAN), Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Imhoff
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts Institute of Technology AgeLab, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Health Sciences, Program of Kinesiology, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, Chicoutimi.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lavallière
authors.affiliation: Faculté de Médecine, Département de Kinésiologie.
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Germain-Robitaille
authors.affiliation: Faculté de Médecine, Département de Kinésiologie; Groupe de recherche en analyse du mouvement et ergonomie, Université Laval; CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Centre d'excellence sur le vieillissement de Québec.
authors.forename: Normand
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Teasdale
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Kinetics; Research Group on Neuromusculoskeletal Dysfunctions (GRAN), Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada; Research Center in Neuropsychology and Cognition (CERNEC), Montréal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fait
keywords: assessment; driving; rehabilitation; simulator; traumatic brain injury