Abstract
Persons with a diagnosis of minimally conscious state and pervasive motor disabilities tend to be passive and isolated. A way to help them improve their adaptive behavior (relate to their environment) involves the use of intervention packages combining assistive technology with motivational strategies. The types of assistive technology included in those packages may consist of (a) microswitches allowing direct access to environmental stimuli, (b) combinations of microswitches and voice output communication devices (VOCAs) allowing stimulus access and calls for caregivers’ attention, respectively, and (c) computer presentations of stimulus options and microswitches allowing choice among those options and access to them.
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.References
Barlow DH, Nock M, Hersen M (2009) Single-case experimental designs: strategies for studying behavior change, 3rd edn. Allyn & Bacon, New York
Borg J, Larson S, Östegren PO (2011) The right to assistive technology: for whom, for what, and by whom? Disabil Soc 26:151–167
Bosco A, Lancioni GE, Olivetti Belardinelli M, Singh NN, O’Reilly MF, Sigafoos J (2009) Learning as a possible sign of non-reflective consciousness in persons with a diagnosis of vegetative state and pervasive motor disabilities. Cogn Process 10:355–359
Bruno MA, Vanhaudenhuyse A, Thibaut A, Moonen G, Laureys S (2011) From unresponsive wakefulness to minimally conscious PLUS and functional looked-in syndromes: recent advances in our understanding of disorders of consciousness. J Neurol 258:1373–1384
Catania AC (2007) Learning, 4th Interim edn. Sloan, New York
Giacino JT, Kalmar K (2005) Diagnostic and prognostic guidelines for the vegetative and minimally conscious states. Neuropsychol Rehabil 15:166–174
Kalmar K, Giacino JT (2005) The JFK Coma Recovery Scale-Revised. Neuropsychol Rehabil 15:454–460
Lancioni GE, Singh NN, O’Reilly MF, Sigafoos J, Buonocunto F, Sacco V, Colonna F, Navarro J, Megna G, Chiapparino C, De Pace C (2009) Two persons with severe post-coma motor impairment and minimally conscious state use assistive technology to access stimulus events and social contact. Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol 4:367–372
Lancioni GE, Bosco A, Olivetti Belardinelli M, Singh NN, O’Reilly MF, Sigafoos J (2010a) An overview of intervention options for promoting adaptive behavior of persons with acquired brain injury and minimally conscious state. Res Dev Disabil 31:1121–1134
Lancioni GE, Singh NN, O’Reilly MF, Sigafoos J, Buonocunto F, Sacco V, Colonna F, Navarro J, Lanzilotti C, Oliva D, Megna G (2010b) Post-coma persons with motor and communication/consciousness impairments choose among environmental stimuli and request stimulus repetitions via assistive technology. Res Dev Disabil 31:777–783
Lancioni GE, Singh NN, O’Reilly MF, Signorino M, Alberti G, Scigliuzzo F, Oliva D (2010c) Adapting a computer-assisted program to help a post-coma man with extensive multiple disabilities choose stimulus events. Dev Neurorehabil 13:433–439
Lancioni G, O’Reilly M, Singh N, D’Amico F, Ricci I, Buonocunto F (2011a) Microswitch-cluster technology to enhance adaptive engagement and head upright by a post-coma man with multiple disabilities. Dev Neurorehabil 14:60–64
Lancioni GE, Singh NN, O’Reilly MF, Sigafoos J, Alberti G, Oliva D, Megna G, Iliceto C, Damiani S, Ricci I, Spica A (2011b) Post-coma persons with extensive motor disabilities use microswitch technology to access selected stimulation events or operate a radio device. Res Dev Disabil 32:1638–1645
Lancioni GE, Singh NN, O’Reilly MF, Sigafoos J, Buonocunto F, Sacco V, Colonna F, Navarro J, Lanzilotti C, Oliva D, Megna M (2011c) 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
Lancioni GE, Singh NN, O’Reilly MF, Sigafoos J, Ricci I, Buonocunto F, Sacco V (2012) Access to environmental stimulation via eyelid responses for persons with acquired brain injury and multiple disabilities: a new microswitch arrangement. Percept Mot Skills 114:353–362
Spivey M (2007) The continuity of mind. Oxford University Press, London
Conflict of interest
This supplement was not sponsored by outside commercial interests. It was funded entirely by ECONA, Via dei Marsi, 78, 00185 Roma, Italy.
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. Technology-based intervention to help persons with minimally conscious state and pervasive motor disabilities perform environmentally relevant adaptive behavior. Cogn Process 13 (Suppl 1), 219–222 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10339-012-0485-5
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10339-012-0485-5