Persons with acquired brain injury and multiple disabilities access stimulation independently through...

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Engineering
• Assistive Technology
• Neurorehabilitation

Background:

• Individuals with acquired brain injury (ABI) and profound multiple disabilities often face challenges in interacting with their environment.
• Microswitch-based technology offers a potential avenue for enhancing environmental control and independence in this population.
• Assessing the efficacy of tailored assistive technology is crucial for improving quality of life for individuals with severe disabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility of enabling adults with ABI and profound multiple disabilities to independently access preferred environmental stimuli using microswitch technology.
• To investigate the learning and maintenance of microswitch responses for environmental control in individuals with severe cognitive and physical impairments.

Main Methods:

• A multiple probe design across microswitches (responses) was employed.
• Two adults with ABI and profound multiple disabilities were provided with two microswitches activated by head movements (turning or bending).
• Microswitches were introduced sequentially, granting access to different auditory or visual stimuli, and later made available simultaneously in 5-minute sessions.

Main Results:

• Both participants successfully learned to operate the two microswitches.
• Consistent responding levels were maintained when both microswitches were available simultaneously.
• Significant within-session variations in response frequencies between the right and left microswitches were observed, with one participant showing a left-side response preference.

Conclusions:

• Microswitch-based technology can be effectively utilized by adults with acquired brain injury and profound multiple disabilities to attain environmental stimuli independently.
• The findings underscore the importance of assistive technology in rehabilitation programs aimed at enhancing autonomy and engagement for individuals with severe disabilities.
• Further research should explore strategies to optimize response consistency and minimize variations in microswitch use within this population.