Persons with multiple disabilities use orientation technology to find room entrances during indoor traveling

Interventions for adults with deafblindness - an integrative review

PURPOSE

To compile the current research on interventions for rehabilitation aimed at adults (aged 18-65 years) with deafblindness.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A comprehensive search was conducted in eight databases. An additional manual search was also carried out. A total of 7049 unique references were initially identified, and after screening, 28 original scientific articles were included. The results from these articles were categorized based on limiting consequences of deafblindness: communication, orientation and to move around freely and safely and access to information, as well as to psychological adaptation to deafblindness.

RESULTS

Fourteen of the included articles had their main focus on access to communication, ten on orientation and the ability to move around feely and safely, three on the opportunity to gain access to information, and one related to psychological adaptation to deafblindness. Most articles focused on technical devices, of which one-third were single case studies.

CONCLUSION

There is a limited number of evaluated interventions for people with deafblindness. Most of the existing studies involved one to five participants with deafblindness, and only few studies involved a larger number of participants. More research with a larger number of participants are needed, which could be facilitated by international cooperation between practitioners and researchers.

Treatment of Aggression in an Adult With Intellectual Disability and Physical Impairment Through Function-Based Ambulatory Support

We report the case of a man who had intellectual disability and physical impairment, required assistance from care-providers when ambulating, and demonstrated aggression during transitions between locations. Results of a functional analysis suggested that aggression was negatively reinforced by termination of transition-assisted guidance from care-providers. Intervention evaluation found that aggression during transitions was eliminated by providing the man with ambulatory support through a gait-trainer device that removed the need for care-provider assistance. The case study supports and extends previous research on the analysis and treatment of problem behaviors occurring during environmental transitions.

A Technology-Aided Program to Support Basic Occupational Engagement and Mobility in Persons with Multiple Disabilities

Background

Persons with severe/profound intellectual and multiple disabilities tend to be passive and sedentary. Promoting their occupational engagement and mobility (i.e., indoor walking) can help to modify their condition and improve their environmental input, health, and social image.

Aim

This study assessed whether a technology-aided program was suitable to (a) support independent occupation and mobility in eight participants with intellectual and sensory disabilities and (b) eventually increase the participants’ heart rates to levels considered beneficial for them.

Method

The program, which involved a computer system regulating the presentation of auditory or visual cues and the delivery of preferred stimulation, was introduced according to a non-concurrent multiple baseline design across participants. The auditory or visual cues guided the participants to collect objects from different desks and to transport them to a final destination (i.e., depositing them into a carton). Preferred stimulation was available to the participants for collecting and for depositing the objects.

Results

During the program, all participants had an increase in their independent responses of collecting objects and transporting them to the final destination. Their heart rates also increased to levels reflecting moderate-intensity physical exercise, potentially beneficial for their health.

Conclusion

A program, such as that used in this study, can promote occupational engagement and mobility in persons with multiple disabilities.

Automatic feedback to promote safe walking and speech loudness control in persons with multiple disabilities: two single-case studies

OBJECTIVE

Assessing automatic feedback technologies to promote safe travel and speech loudness control in two men with multiple disabilities, respectively.

METHOD

The men were involved in two single-case studies. In Study I, the technology involved a microprocessor, two photocells, and a verbal feedback device. The man received verbal alerting/feedback when the photocells spotted an obstacle in front of him. In Study II, the technology involved a sound-detecting unit connected to a throat and an airborne microphone, and to a vibration device. Vibration occurred when the man's speech loudness exceeded a preset level.

RESULTS

The man included in Study I succeeded in using the automatic feedback in substitution of caregivers' alerting/feedback for safe travel. The man of Study II used the automatic feedback to successfully reduce his speech loudness.

CONCLUSION

Automatic feedback can be highly effective in helping persons with multiple disabilities improve their travel and speech performance.

Technology-based orientation programs to support indoor travel by persons with moderate Alzheimer's disease: impact assessment and social validation

The present study (a) extended the assessment of an orientation program involving auditory cues (i.e., verbal messages automatically presented from the destinations) with five patients with Alzheimer's disease, (b) compared the effects of this program with those of a program with light cues (i.e., a program in which strobe lights were used instead of the verbal messages) with the same five patients, and (c) conducted a social validation assessment of the two programs with 70 university psychology students employed as social raters. Results confirmed the effectiveness of the program with auditory cues and showed an equally strong impact of the program with light cues with all five patients. The psychology students involved in the social validation assessment provided significantly higher scores for the program involving light cues on a six-item questionnaire. Those scores suggested that this program was perceived as a practically and socially preferable choice. The implications of the findings for daily contexts dealing with patients with Alzheimer's disease are discussed.

Family members' reports of the technology use of family members with intellectual and developmental disabilities

BACKGROUND

A nationwide survey of family members of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities ranging in age from birth through adulthood was conducted to replicate a similar effort by Wehmeyer and update the knowledge base concerning technology use by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

METHOD

Survey responses provided information about use of technology for mobility, hearing and vision, communication, independent living, and in the area of computer use. In addition, survey items queried the use of electronic and information technology devices such as use of email, mobile telephones and digital cameras.

RESULTS

Survey results showed that although the use of computers for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities is more prevalent, other technology use frequency is much the same as in the late 1990s. However, technology needs did vary among school-age individuals over time.

CONCLUSION

Implications of results for technology use of people with disabilities are discussed through the lens of frequency of use and needs for individuals with disabilities.

Persons with mild or moderate Alzheimer's disease use a basic orientation technology to travel to different rooms within a day center

This study assessed whether three patients with Alzheimer's disease could learn to use a basic orientation technology to reach different rooms within a day center. At each travel instance, the technology provided verbal messages (cues) from the room to reach. For the first two patients, the messages were presented at intervals of about 15s. For the third patient (who had more extensive orientation problems), shorter intervals combined with the voice of the research assistant were initially used. Results showed that all three patients were successful in using the technology to orient their travel and find the rooms correctly. A social validation assessment, in which university psychology students were asked to rate the patients' travel performance with the technology and with the help of a caregiver, provided generally higher (more positive) scores for the technology-assisted performance. The implications of the findings for daily programs of patients with Alzheimer's disease are discussed.