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Updated: Mar 24, 2026
Measuring the Functional Abilities of Children Aged 3-6 Years Old with Observational Methods and Computer Tools
Published on: June 20, 2020
Investigating user satisfaction, usage characteristics, and early abandonment of customized assistive devices for
Yifah Swisa1, Naomi Weintraub1, Naomi Gefen1,2
1School of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Purpose:
Customising assistive technology (AT) is a complex and highly individualised process, and AT that is not properly fitted often leads to early abandonment. Most research on this topic focuses on adults and little is known about the process for children and young adults. This study aims to examine the characteristics of children and young adults who received customised AT, the intended goals of the product, the rate of early abandonment, and factors influencing sustained us.
Materials And Methods:
The study included 26 parents and therapists who completed questionnaires about 27 children and young adults aged 2-22 years. Participants were recruited from an assistive technology department at ALYN Hospital in Jerusalem, Israel.
Results:
The products were primarily customised to achieve goals in three occupational areas (activities of daily living and sleep, mobility and seating and leisure and education), with activities of daily living (ADL) and sleep being the most common. The AT abandonment rate was 37%. Significant differences between those who used the product as planned and those who abandoned it were found in satisfaction with the products (U = 41.5, p = 0.02) and perceived improvement in quality of life (U = 7.5, p = 0.00).
Conclusions:
The findings highlight the importance of accurate identification of unmet needs and careful tailoring in product development to meet children's needs, as well as the necessity of systematic follow-up after implementation to ensure improvement in quality-of-life.
