Abstract
This study replicated/extended a pilot investigation of a technology-assisted program to enable persons with acquired brain injury and neuro-motor and communication/consciousness impairments to choose among environmental stimuli and request their repetition whenever they so desired. The study included three adult participants. Within each session, 16 stimuli (12 preferred and 4 non-preferred) were planned for the participants. A computer system provided a reminder of each stimulus (i.e., a 4-s sample of the stimulus). During the intervention, participants’ responding (e.g., repeated eye blinking or prolonged eye closure) in relation to a reminder/sample activated a microswitch, which triggered the computer system to turn on the related stimulus for 20 s. Participants’ lack of responding led the computer system to proceed to the next stimulus sample of the sequence. When participants responded immediately after (i.e., within 6 s from) the end of a stimulus presentation, that stimulus was repeated. Intervention promoted response increases for all three participants. All of them asked for repetition of preferred stimuli and showed minimal responding in relation to non-preferred stimuli. Results were discussed in light of previous (pilot) data with the same program and in terms of their implications for rehabilitation initiatives.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Algozzine, B., Browder, D., Karvonen, M., Test, D. W., & Wood, W. M. (2001). Effects of intervention to promote self-determination for individuals with disabilities. Review of Educational Research, 71, 219–277.
Baker, P. M., & Moon, N. W. (2008). Wireless technologies and accessibility for people with disabilities: findings from a policy research instrument. Assistive Technology, 20, 149–156.
Barlow, D. H., Nock, M., & Hersen, M. (2009). Single-case experimental designs: Strategies for studying behavior change (3rd ed.). New York: Allyn & Bacon.
Cannella, H. I., O’Reilly, M. F., & Lancioni, G. E. (2005). Choice and preference assessment research with people with severe to profound developmental disabilities: a review of literature. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 26, 1–15.
Cavalier, A. R., & Brown, C. C. (1998). From passivity to participation: the transformational possibilities of speech-recognition technology. Teaching Exceptional Children, 30, 60–65.
Ceravolo, M. G. (2006). Cognitive rehabilitation of attention deficit after brain damage: from research to clinical practice. European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, 42, 49–51.
Chua, K. S. G., Ng, Y. S., Yap, S. G. M., & Bok, C. W. (2007). A brief review of traumatic brain injury rehabilitation. Annals Academy of Medicine Singapore, 36, 31–42.
Crawford, M. R., & Schuster, J. W. (1993). Using microswitches to teach toy use. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 5, 349–368.
Davis, P. K., Young, A., Cherry, H., Dahman, D., & Rehfeldt, R. A. (2004). Increasing the happiness of individuals with profound multiple disabilities: replication and extension. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 37, 531–534.
Giacino, J. T., & Trott, C. T. (2004). Rehabilitative management of patients with disorders of consciousness: grand rounds. Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, 19, 254–265.
Giacino, J. T., & Smart, C. M. (2007). Recent advances in behavioral assessment of individuals with disorders of consciousness. Current Opinion in Neurology, 20, 614–619.
Hagen, C. (1998). Levels of cognitive functioning. Rehabilitation of the head injured adult: Comprehensive physical management (3rd ed.). Dowey: Professional Staff Association of the Rancho Los Amigos Hospital, Inc.
Holburn, S., Nguyen, D., & Vietze, P. M. (2004). Computer-assisted learning for adults with profound multiple disabilities. Behavioral Interventions, 19, 25–37.
Hourcade, J., Pilotte, T. E., West, E., & Parette, P. (2004). A history of augmentative and alternative communication for individuals with severe and profound disabilities. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 19, 235–244.
Johnson, K. L., Bamer, A. M., & Amtmann, D. (2009). Use of cognitive aids and other assistive technology by individuals with multiple sclerosis. Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, 4, 1–8.
Judge, S., Robertson, Z., Hawley, M., & Enderby, P. (2009). Speech-driven environmental control systems: a qualitative analysis of users’ perceptions. Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, 4, 151–157.
Kalmar, K., & Giacino, J. T. (2005). The JFK Coma Recovery Scale-Revised. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, 15, 454–460.
Kazdin, A. E. (2001). Behavior modification in applied settings (6th ed.). New York: Wadsworth.
Kennedy, C. H. (2005). Single case designs for educational research. New York: Allyn & Bacon.
Lachapelle, Y., Wehmeyer, M. L., Haelewyck, M. C., Courbois, Y., Keith, K. D., Schalock, R., et al. (2005). The relationship between quality of life and self-determination: an international study. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 49, 740–744.
Lancioni, G. E., Singh, N. N., O’Reilly, M. F., Oliva, D., & Basili, G. (2005). An overview of research on increasing indices of happiness of people with severe/profound intellectual and multiple disabilities. Disability and Rehabilitation, 27, 83–93.
Lancioni, G. E., O’Reilly, M. F., Singh, N. N., Oliva, D., Baccani, S., Severini, L., et al. (2006a). Micro-switch programmes for students with multiple disabilities and minimal motor behaviour: Assessing response acquisition and choice. Pediatric Rehabilitation, 9, 137–143.
Lancioni, G. E., O’Reilly, M. F., Singh, N. N., Sigafoos, J., Oliva, D., & Severini, L. (2006b). Enabling persons with multiple disabilities to choose among environmental stimuli and request stimulus repetitions through microswitch and computer technology. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 103, 354–362.
Lancioni, G. E., Olivetti Belardinelli, M., Oliva, D., Signorino, M., Stasolla, F., De Tommaso, M., et al. (2008a). Successful extension of assessment and rehabilitation intervention for an adolescent with postcoma multiple disabilities through a learning setup. European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, 44, 449–453.
Lancioni, G. E., O’Reilly, M. F., Singh, N. N., Sigafoos, J., Oliva, D., Antonucci, M., et al. (2008b). Microswitch-based programs for persons with multiple disabilities: an overview of some recent developments. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 106, 355–370.
Lancioni, G. E., O’Reilly, M. F., Singh, N. N., Buonocunto, F., Sacco, V., Colonna, F., et al. (2009a). Technology-based intervention options for post-coma persons with minimally conscious state and pervasive motor disabilities. Developmental Neurorehabilitation, 12, 24–31.
Lancioni, G. E., Singh, N. N., O’Reilly, M. F., Sigafoos, J., Buonocunto, F., Sacco, V., et al. (2009b). Two persons with severe post-coma motor impairment and minimally conscious state use assistive technology to access stimulus events and social contact. Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, 4, 367–372.
Lancioni, G. E., Singh, N. N., O’Reilly, M. F., Sigafoos, J., Buonocunto, F., Sacco, V., et al. (2009c). Microswitch- and VOCA-assisted programs for two post-coma persons with minimally conscious state and pervasive motor disabilities. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 30, 1459–1467.
Lancioni, G. E., Singh, N. N., O’Reilly, M. F., Sigafoos, J., Buonocunto, F., Sacco, V., et al. (2010). Post-coma persons with motor and communication/consciousness impairments choose among environmental stimuli and request stimulus repetitions via assistive technology. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 31, 777–783.
Lim, L., Browder, D. M., & Bambara, L. (2001). Effects of sampling opportunities on preference development for adults with severe disabilities. Education and Training in Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, 36, 188–195.
Lombardi, F., Gatta, G., Sacco, S., Muratori, A., & Carolei, A. (2007). The Italian version of the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R). Functional Neurology, 22, 47–61.
McNaughton, D., & Bryen, D. N. (2007). AAC technologies to enhance participation and access to meaningful societal roles for adolescents and adults with developmental disabilities who require AAC. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 23, 217–229.
Mechling, L. C. (2006). Comparison of the effects of three approaches on the frequency of stimulus activations, via a single switch, by students with profound intellectual disabilities. Journal of Special Education, 40, 94–102.
Naudé, K., & Hughes, M. (2005). Considerations for the use of assistive technology in patients with impaired states of consciousness. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, 15, 514–521.
Petry, K., Maes, B., & Vlaskamp, C. (2005). Domains of quality of life of people with profound multiple disabilities: The perspective of parents and direct support staff. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 18, 35–46.
Reyer, H. S., & Sturmey, P. (2009). Effects of systematically depriving access to computer-based stimuli on choice responding with individuals with intellectual disabilities. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 30, 1177–1487.
Sarimski, K. (2002). Analysis of intentional communication in severely handicapped children with Cornelia-de-Lange syndrome. Journal of Communication Disorders, 35, 483–500.
Singh, N. N., Lancioni, G. E., O’Reilly, M. F., Molina, E. J., Adkins, A. D., & Oliva, D. (2003). Self-determination during mealtimes through microswitch choice-making by an individual with complex multiple disabilities and profound mental retardation. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 5, 209–215.
Spevack, S., Martin, T. L., Hiebert, R., Yu, C. T., & Martin, G. L. (2005). Effects of choice of work tasks on on-task, aberrant, happiness and unhappiness behaviours of persons with developmental disabilities. Journal on Developmental Disabilities, 11, 79–97.
Tsuchiya, N., & Adolphs, R. (2007). Emotion and consciousness. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 11, 158–167.
Wehmeyer, M. L. (2005). Self-determination and individuals with severe disabilities: re-examining meanings and misinterpretations. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 30, 113–120.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lancioni, G.E., Singh, N.N., O’Reilly, M.F. et al. Enabling Persons with Acquired Brain Injury and Multiple Disabilities to Choose among Environmental Stimuli and Request their Repetition via a Technology-assisted Program. J Dev Phys Disabil 23, 173–182 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-010-9212-2
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-010-9212-2