Driver Rehabilitation

ABSTRACT

Driver rehabilitation is a component of rehabilitation medicine that specifically focuses on the evaluation and retraining of drivers who have medical conditions that may affect driving capacity. Automobile driving is an instrumental activity of daily living and driver rehabilitation needs a comprehensive approach guided by rehabilitation specialist. Drivers who need evaluation include brain damaged drivers, such as stroke and traumatic brain injury; older drivers, especially those who are suspicious as having dementia; and drivers with psychiatric illnesses. Driver evaluation is constituted of pre-driving (in-clinic) evaluation and behind-the-wheel evaluation. In-clinic evaluation includes history taking and physical examination that focuses on visual, motor and cognitive function. Details of in-clinic evaluation are discussed. Driving performance can be evaluated during simulated or on-road driving or both. Driver retraining can also be done using driving simulator or real automobile equipped with adaptive devices. It is predicted that increasing aged population raises the need for driver evaluation and rehabilitation in the near future. Concerns and participation for rehabilitation specialists in driver rehabilitation is requested.