Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 25, 2026
Assessment and Communication for People with Disorders of Consciousness
Published on: August 1, 2017
Special text messaging communication systems for persons with multiple disabilities
Giulio E Lancioni1, Mark F O'Reilly, Nirbhay N Singh
1Department of Psychology, University of Bari, Via Quintino Sella 268, Bari, Italy. g.lancioni@psico.uniba.it
Objective:
To expand recently-developed text messaging systems with new technology-based solutions so as to allow persons with multiple disabilities to write messages.
Method:
Two case studies were conducted. In Study I, the new technology-based solution involved vocal scanning of the alphabet letters to allow letter selection/writing and was assessed with a woman with blindness and extensive motor disability. In Study II, the new technology-based solution involved a touch-screen superimposed on letter symbols arranged alphabetically and was assessed with a man with acquired brain injury, motor disability and lack of speech. Each study involved an ABAB design.
Results:
Participants learned to write their messages, to send them out and to listen to incoming messages during intervention sessions of nearly 30 and 20 minutes, respectively.
Conclusion:
Text messaging systems can be developed that allow participants with multiple disabilities to write messages.
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