TYPEWRITER CONTROL FOR AN APHASIC QUADRIPLEGIC PATIENT

New equipment was developed to enable an aphasic quadriplegic patient to communicate with other people. The patient was completely quadriplegic except for slight movement in the right hand and minimal movement of the left fingers. The equipment translated Morse code, which the patient had to learn, into either (1) a visual display to communicate with visitors, or (2) an electric typewriter input to permit correspondence. This case demonstrates how properly applied research can yield results of value in ameliorating the lot of patients with major physical afflictions or crippling illnesses.

THE DRIFT AND DISSOLUTION OF LANGUAGE

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WORD LENGTH AND DISCRIMINATION BEHAVIOR OF APHASICS

This study was undertaken to investigate the phenomenon of the adverse effect of word length on the discrimination behavior of aphasics. Ten aphasics and 10 age-and-sex matched controls were assessed on 312 match-to-sample tasks using automated techniques. A mixed factorial design permitted the stimuli to be presented in 36 different combinations. Three hypotheses were explored: unreliable scanning behavior, the meaning and pronounceability of the discriminanda, and the ability to discriminate amongst perceptual noise. The latter was found to be the only variable which had an adverse effect on the aphasic’s discrimination.

ORGANIC STUPOR SUBSEQUENT TO A SEVERE HEAD INJURY TREATED WITH E.C.T

Roth and Rosie (1953) discussed the beneficial effect of E.C.T. in a wide range of psychoses complicated by clouding of consciousness, including syndromes of frankly organic origin. The treatment has been used effectively for psychotic symptoms in G.P.I. (Ewald and Haddenbrock, 1942; Bini, 1947; Solomonet al., 1948; Yaskin, 1948; Kalinowsky, 1949; Lopez Ibor, 1950), pellagra and pernicious anaemia (Fernandes and Polonio, 1946). It is perhaps not surprising that a search through the literature has failed to bring to light a case of stupor subsequent to a head injury being treated with E.C.T.