Acquired Brain Injury and Assistive Technology

Emma Coulter

What is Assistive Technology?

Any piece of external equipment used to support individuals with disabilities in completing functional tasks in their natural context (Sohlberg, 2011) Can vary from low-tech to high-tech devices
(Gentry, Wallace, Kvarfordt, & Bodisch Lynch, 2008)

Examples: Assistive Technology

Low-tech aids (non-electronic):
High-tech aids (electronic):

How do they help?

Memory and Attention:

Applications: calendars with attachable notes, digital cameras/camcorders, voice recorders, notepads, mobile phone with contact list, Global Positioning System
(Svoboda, Richards, Polsinelli, & Guger, 2010)

Devices with voice output (ex. The Talking Microwave II), Devices with alarms (Disability Rights New Jersey, 2011)

Sleep Cycles:

The Shake Awake alarm clock (Disability Rights New

Jersey, 2011)

Driving (Lane & Benoit, 2011)

Driving requires cognitive and motor skill, both of which can be a challenge for those who have an acquired brain injury Cognitive Supports:

Sensors, rearview cameras and monitors, global positioning systems, autonomous cruise control, lane departure warning systems, blind zone assist technology, semi-automated parallel parking technology, and night vision infrared technology

Motor Supports:

Left foot accelerators, hand-control pedal operations

Young People

Many young people today are exposed to technology everyday (Gillette & DePompei, 2004) Assistive Technology in School:

Dragon Dictation software, note-taking pens and devices (Schilling & Getch, 2012) Other devices that assist with memory and attention

NOTE:
Assistive Technology should be carefully matched to a clients needs, desires, environment, and skill level! (Sohlberg, 2011)

References

Disability Rights New Jersey (2011). Assistive Technology for Inidividuals with Traumatic Brain Injury. Brainline.org. Retrieved October 28, 2012, from http://www.brainline.org/content/2011/04/assistive-technology-for-individuals-with traumatic-brain-injury-tbi.html. Gentry, T., Wallace, J., Kvarfordt, C., & Bodisch Lynch, K. (2008). Personal digital assistants as cognitive aids for individuals with severe traumatic brain injury: A community-based trial. Brain Injury 22(1), 19-24. Gillette, Y., & DePompei, R. (2004). The potential of electronic organizers as a tool in the cognitive rehabilitation of young people. NeuroRehabilitation, 19, 233-243. Hux, K. (2011). Assisting Survivors of Traumatic Brain Injury: The Role of Speech Language Pathologists. Austin, TX: PRO-ED, Inc. Lane, A. & Benoit, D. (2011). Driving, brain injury and assistive technology. NeuroRehabilitation, 28, 221-229. Schilling, E. & Getch, Y. (2012). Getting My Bearings, Returning to School: Issues Facing Adolescents With Traumatic Brain Injury. Teaching Exceptional Children, 45(1), 54-63. Sohlberg, M. (2011, February 15). Assistive Technology for Cognition. The ASHA Leader. Retrieved from http://www.asha.org/Publications/leader/2011/110215/AssistiveTechnology-for Cognition.htm. Svoboda, E., Richards, B., Polsinelli, A., & Guger, S. (2010). A theory-driven training programme in the use of emerging commercial technology: Application to an adolescent with severe memory imparment. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation,20(4), 562-586.