Department of Psychology, University of Bari, and Bari University Hospital, Via Quintino Sella 268, 70100 Bari, Italy.
Res Dev Disabil. 2011 Sep-Oct;32(5):1638-45. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2011.02.016. Epub 2011 Mar 12.
The present two studies extended research evidence on the use of microswitch technology by post-coma persons with multiple disabilities. Specifically, Study I examined whether three adults with a diagnosis of minimally conscious state and multiple disabilities could use microswitches as tools to access brief, selected stimulus events. Study II assessed whether an adult, who had emerged from a minimally conscious state but was affected by multiple disabilities, could manage the use of a radio device via a microswitch-aided program. Results showed that the participants of Study I had a significant increase of microswitch responding during the intervention phases. The participant of Study II learned to change radio stations and seemed to spend different amounts of session time on the different stations available (suggesting preferences among the programs characterizing them). The importance of microswitch technology for assisting post-coma persons with multiple disabilities to positively engage with their environment was discussed.
本两项研究扩展了昏迷后多重残疾患者使用微开关技术的研究证据。具体而言，研究一考察了三名被诊断为最小意识状态和多重残疾的成年人是否可以使用微开关作为工具来获取简短的、选定的刺激事件。研究二评估了一名从最小意识状态中恢复过来但仍受多重残疾影响的成年人是否可以通过微开关辅助程序来管理无线电设备的使用。结果表明，研究一的参与者在干预阶段微开关反应显著增加。研究二的参与者学会了换台，并且似乎在不同的可用电台上花费了不同的时间（表明他们对各台节目存在偏好）。讨论了微开关技术对于帮助昏迷后多重残疾患者积极参与环境的重要性。
