Injury risk compensation in children with disabilities: could assistive technology devices have a dark side?

This review article investigates the role of assistive technology (AT) devices and other contextual aspects as unintentional injury risk factors in children with disabilities.

A literature review was conducted to identify and review empirical studies that examined the role of AT devices, protective equipment (PE), and other consumer products in the risk-taking behaviors of children and their parents.

Nine original empirical studies and one systematic review examining changes in the risk-taking behaviors or injury levels associated with children's PE and other products were identified and critically reviewed. None of the articles specifically addressed the compensatory effect of AT devices. Since evidence of changes in the risk tolerance of children and their parents after the introduction of PE and other products for children exists, it is conceivable under certain conditions that AT devices could interact with other known risk factors to promote injury risk-taking behaviors in children and their parents.

Outcomes of this review and current thinking about the interaction of health conditions and contextual factors provide a theoretical underpinning to explore the causal association among unintentional injury risk factors and AT device use by children with disabilities.