When directions fail: Investigation of getting lost behaviour in adults with acquired brain injury.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE

To investigate and describe getting lost behaviour and wayfinding strategies among acquired brain injury (ABI) survivors and matched controls.

RESEARCH DESIGN

Matched control group comparison design.

METHODS AND PROCEDURES

This study compared wayfinding performance of 18 adults with acquired brain injury to controls matched for gender, age and education. Participants followed written directions along an eight-step route in an unfamiliar neighbourhood, with three intentionally challenging choice-points. They used a cellular phone to request assistance if they became lost. Dependent measures included accuracy, directness and wayfinding strategy. Statistical and qualitative analyses explored group themes and differences.

MAIN RESULTS

Participants with ABI demonstrated significantly greater on-route wayfinding errors and hesitancy than matched controls. The ABI group requested assistance over the cell phone more frequently than controls and required more attempts at re-orientation with concrete, salient directions in order to re-orient in the field. Participants in the control group anticipated errors with greater frequency than those with ABI.

CONCLUSIONS

ABI survivors demonstrated greater challenges with wayfinding than matched controls. Re-orientation required concrete, explicit redirection with reference to salient landmarks. Implications for clinical practice and assistive technology are discussed.