Article

Interventions for post-coma persons, who have emerged from a
minimally conscious state but present with extensive neuro-motor impairment and
lack of or minimal verbal skills, need to promote occupation and communication
through the use of assistive technology. OBJECTIVE: These two studies were aimed
at assessing two technology-aided programs to promote leisure engagement and
communication for three post-coma participants with multiple disabilities.
METHODS: Study I assessed a program to allow a woman and a man with extensive
neuro-motor impairment and lack of speech to switch on music and videos, make
requests to caregivers, and send messages to (communicate with) relevant partners
and receive messages from those partners. Study II assessed a program to allow a
post-coma woman with extensive motor impairment and reduced verbal behavior to
activate music, videos and requests, send and receive messages, and make
telephone calls. RESULTS: Data showed that both programs were successful. The
participants of Study I managed leisure engagement, requests, as well as text
messaging. The participant of Study II showed consistent leisure engagement, text
messaging, and telephone calls. CONCLUSIONS: Assistive technology can be
profitably used to provide post-coma persons with multiple disabilities relevant
leisure and communication opportunities.

Langue : ANGLAIS