Head movement and its relation to hearing.

Head position at any point in time plays a fundamental role in shaping the auditory information that reaches a listener, information that continuously changes as the head moves and reorients to different listening situations. The connection between hearing science and the kinesthetics of head movement has gained interest due to technological advances that have increased the feasibility of providing behavioral and biological feedback to assistive listening devices that can interpret movement patterns that reflect listening intent. Increasing evidence also shows that the negative impact of hearing deficits on mobility, gait, and balance may be mitigated by prosthetic hearing device intervention. Better understanding of the relationships between head movement, full body kinetics, and hearing health, should lead to improved signal processing strategies across a range of assistive and augmented hearing devices. The purpose of this review is to introduce the wider hearing community to the kinesiology of head movement and to place it in the context of hearing and communication with the goal of expanding the field of ecologically-specific listener behavior.

Concept and Pictogram-Based User-Interface Design of a Helper Tool for People with Aphasia.

BACKGROUND: Aphasia describes the lack of the already gained ability to use language in a common way. "Language" here covers all variations of forming or understanding messages. OBJECTIVES: The APH-Alarm project aims to develop a service concept that provides alternative communication options for people with Aphasia to trigger timely help when needed. It considers that a typical user may not be familiar with modern technologies and offers several simple and intuitive options. METHODS: The approach is based on event detection of gestures (during daytime or in bed), movement pattern recognition in bed, and an easy-to-use pictogram-based smartphone app. RESULTS: Agile evaluation of the smartphone app showed a promising outcome. CONCLUSION: The idea of a versatile and comprehensive solution for aphasic people to easily contact private or public helpers based on their actions or automatic detection is promising and will be further investigated in an upcoming field trial.

Contribuições da comunicação alternativa no desenvolvimento da comunicação de criança com transtorno do espectro do autismo / Contributions of alternative communication in the development of communication in children with autism spectrum disorder

RESUMO Este artigo apresenta as contribuições do uso de um sistema de Comunicação Aumentativa e Alternativa de alta tecnologia no desenvolvimento das habilidades comunicacionais de uma criança com Transtorno do Espectro do Autismo (TEA). Para isso, foi realizado um estudo de caso com uma criança de 2 anos e 2 meses, durante 24 sessões de terapia, ao longo de oito meses. Como instrumentos de avaliação, foram utilizados o Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist e o protocolo Avaliação da Comunicação no Transtorno do Espectro do Autismo. Durante as intervenções, utilizou-se o método Desenvolvimento das Habilidades Comunicacionais no Autismo e, como recurso de Comunicação Aumentativa e Alternativa, a prancha de alta tecnologia do aplicativo aBoard. De acordo com os resultados, após as intervenções foram observadas melhoras nos escores dos instrumentos de avaliação, quanto às habilidades de expressão, compreensão e interação social. Além disso, observou-se aumento do vocabulário da criança, com aquisição de novas categorias lexicais; realização de solicitações de objetos fora do alcance visual, utilizando a Comunicação Aumentativa e Alternativa, e melhor comunicação social no contexto familiar e educacional. De acordo com os resultados obtidos, puderam ser observadas as contribuições do uso de um sistema de alta tecnologia assistiva de Comunicação Aumentativa e Alternativa no desenvolvimento das habilidades comunicacionais de uma criança com TEA.

ABSTRACT This article presents the contributions of using a high-tech Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) system in the development of the communication skills of a child with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). For this, a case study was carried out with a two-year-and-two-month-old child during 24 therapy sessions over 8 months. As assessment instruments, the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) and the protocol for Communication Assessment in Autism Spectrum Disorder (COATEA) were used. During the interventions, the Development of Communication Skills in Autism (DCSA) method was used and, as an AAC resource, the high-tech board from the aBoard app. Postintervention results showed improvements in the scores of the evaluation instruments for skills of expression, comprehension, and social interaction. The child's vocabulary also increased, with the acquisition of new lexical categories; initiative to request objects beyond his visual reach with the AAC; and better social communication in the family and educational context. The results point to contributions of the use of a high-tech assistive system of AAC in the development of communication skills of a child with ASD.

Design Requirements for a Digital Aid to Support Adults With Mild Learning Disabilities During Clinical Consultations: Qualitative Study With Experts.

BACKGROUND: Adults with mild learning disabilities (MLDs) face a plethora of obstacles when accessing effective health care. Central to many of these barriers is communication, with medical practitioners often remaining untrained on how to interact with patients who have learning disabilities (LDs). To date, research on how to promote this communication has largely centered on the development of low-tech aids. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of utilizing tablet technologies to promote communication between general practitioners and patients with MLDs. We achieved this by identifying a set of design requirements from experts in LDs. METHODS: A set of design guidelines was formed during a 2-phase process. Phase 1 involved conducting a series of requirements-gathering interviews with 10 experts in LDs-the protocol of which emerged from the results of a separate scoping review. The interviews were subjected to a framework analysis to discern the key requirements discussed by the experts, and these were embedded within a technology probe. In phase 2, this probe was presented to a subset (n=4) of the experts during a round of usability studies, and the feedback received was used to update the requirements identified in phase 1. RESULTS: An initial set of design requirements has been produced that may assist in the development of clinical Alternative and Augmentative Communication technologies for adults with MLDs. Factors that must be considered range from the health, physical and cognitive needs of stakeholders, to the more individual needs of users. CONCLUSIONS: The experts involved in the study were optimistic about the proposed app. They believe that such technologies can help to alleviate time constraints and promote communication by presenting information in a form understood by both practitioners and patients.

Investigación y terapéutica en el trastorno del espectro autista: una experiencia de desarrollo interdisciplinario / Research and therapeutics in the disorder of autistic spectrum: a development experience interdisciplinary

El trastorno del espectro autista (TEA) es un trastorno del neurodesarrollo con amplia problemática psicosocial y neurocognitiva. El uso de estrategias estructuradas en el abordaje de las personas con TEA es una metodología con reconocimiento internacional de utilidad. En la práctica clínica del equipo de diagnóstico y tratamiento del Servicio de Salud Mental Pediátrica del Hospital Italiano de Buenos aires (HIBA) se utilizan las mismas y también otras herramientas como la adquisición del lenguaje a través de la escritura en computadora. Así, es importante compartir la experiencia clínica en el empleo de diferentes estrategias de abordaje en la población con TEA. También, debatir los alcances de la utilización de herramientas tecnológicas en este abordaje y entretanto pensar diferentes formas de validar la utilización de dichas aplicaciones e intervenciones tecnológicas en el TEA. Evaluando sus ventajas y desventajas, buscamos generar un modelo educativo y terapéutico más integrador, centrado en la comunicación y la facilitación de la motivación y la expresividad, para homogeneizar a profesionales y padres con el mundo de los niños con TEA. Esperamos que el uso de dispositivos tecnológicos permita recolectar datos e información clave que luego se podrán utilizar para realizar distintos estudios que arrojen luz sobre aspectos vinculados al desarrollo psicológico-cognitivo de personas con TEA. Es una valiosa opción para considerar por los profesionales entre las alternativas de intervención terapéutica, y que a su vez ayude tanto a plantear nuevas hipótesis en este campo como a ofrecer herramientas ccesibles, innovadoras y eficaces que entrenen y faciliten la tarea de los profesionales de la salud mental. (AU)

The Autism Spectrum Disorder is a neurodevlopmental disorder with a wider psicosocial and neurocognitive problematic. The use of structured strategies in dealing with people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is an useful and internationally recognized methodology. In the clinical practice of diagnostic and treatment team of the service of Pediatric Mental Health of the HIBA, these and also other tools such as language acquisition through writing computer are used. So it is important to share clinical experience using different strategies in the population with ASD. Also, discuss the scope of the use of technological tools in this approach and while thinking about different ways to validate the use of such applications and technological interventions in ASD. Assessing their advantages and disadvantages, we seek to create a more inclusive educational and therapeutic model, focused on communication and facilitation of motivation and expression, to homogenize professionals and arents with the ASD children world. We hope that the use of technological devices allow the collection of data and valuable key information which can then be used to conduct studies that shed light on aspects related to psychological and cognitive development in people with ASD. It is a valuable option to consider for professionals in alternative therapeutic intervention, which in turn will help both raise new hypotheses in this field as well as providing accessible, innovative and efficient tools to train and facilitate the work of mental health professionals. (AU)

Quality of care and resource use among mechanically ventilated patients before and after an intervention to assist nurse-nonvocal patient communication.

OBJECTIVES: Implement and test unit-wide patient-nurse assisted communication strategies (SPEACS). BACKGROUND: SPEACS improved nurse-patient communication outcomes; effects on patient care quality and resource use are unknown. METHODS: Prospective, randomized stepped-wedge pragmatic trial of 1440 adults ventilated ≥2 days and awake for at least one shift in 6 ICUs at 2 teaching hospitals 2009-2011 with blinded retrospective medical record abstraction. MAIN RESULTS: 323/383 (84%) nurses completed training; their communication knowledge (p < .001) and satisfaction and comfort (p < .001) increased. ICU days with physical restraint use (p = .44), heavy sedation (p = .73), pain score documentation (p = .97), presence of ICU-acquired pressure ulcers (p = .78), coma-free days (p = .76), ventilator-free days (p = .83), ICU length of stay (p = .77), hospital length of stay (p = .22), and median costs (p = .07) did not change. CONCLUSIONS: SPEACS improved ICU nurses' knowledge, satisfaction and comfort in communicating with nonvocal MV patients but did not impact patient care quality or resource use.

Augmentative and Alternative Communication Training Using Eye Blink Switch for Locked-in Syndrome Patient.

Locked-in Syndrome is a severe pontine stroke causing quadriplegia, lower cranial nerve paralysis, and mutism with preservation of only vertical gaze and upper eyelid movement in a conscious patient. We present a case of a Locked-in Syndrome patient who received communication training with augmentative and alternative communication equipment by using eye blinks. After 3 weeks of training, the patient was able to make an attempt to interact with other people, and associate a new word by Korean alphabet selection. Augmentative and alternative communication equipment which uses eye blinks might be considered to be beneficial in improving the communication skills of locked-in syndrome patients.

Augmentative and Alternative Communication Training Using Eye Blink Switch for Locked-in Syndrome Patient

Locked-in Syndrome is a severe pontine stroke causing quadriplegia, lower cranial nerve paralysis, and mutism with preservation of only vertical gaze and upper eyelid movement in a conscious patient. We present a case of a Locked-in Syndrome patient who received communication training with augmentative and alternative communication equipment by using eye blinks. After 3 weeks of training, the patient was able to make an attempt to interact with other people, and associate a new word by Korean alphabet selection. Augmentative and alternative communication equipment which uses eye blinks might be considered to be beneficial in improving the communication skills of locked-in syndrome patients.

Introduction of Augmentative and Alternative Communication / 中国康复理论与实践

@#Rehabilitation and related professions have grown rapidly in China during this decade. Quality of life becomes a top priority after acute care service has been delivered. Communication is a unique and essential skill of humans and is one of the main factors influencing quality of life. People share their ideas with each other and advocate for their rights by communicating. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the general concepts of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). The paper includes a brief explanation of AAC, types of AAC, targeted populations benefitted by AAC, principles of a language-based service delivery, and a discussion of interdisciplinary team member roles.>Rehabilitation and related professions have grown rapidly in China during this decade. Quality of life becomes a top priority >after acute care service has been delivered. Communication is a unique and essential skill of humans and is one of the main factors influencing >quality of life. People share their ideas with each other and advocate for their rights by communicating. The purpose of this paper is to introduce>the general concepts of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). The paper includes a brief explanation of AAC, types>of AAC, targeted populations benefitted by AAC, principles of a language-based service delivery, and a discussion of interdisciplinary team>member roles