Towards a physiological signal-based access solution for a non-verbal adolescent with severe and multiple disabilities. (August 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Memarian, Negar; Blain-Moraes, Stefanie; Chau, Tom
• Is Part Of: Developmental neurorehabilitation. Volume 17:Number 4(2014:Aug.)
• Page Start: 270
• Page End: 277
• Publication Date: 2014-08
• Subjects: Children with disabilities -- Rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Developmentally disabled children -- Rehabilitation -- Periodicals; 615.542
• DOI: 10.3109/17518423.2013.834997
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1751-8423

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <italic>Objective</italic>: To find physiologically arousing stimuli and labile physiological channels in a non-verbal adolescent with severe and multiple congenital disabilities, who did not have a reliable means of communication.</p> <p> <italic>Methods</italic>: The client was repeatedly presented with visual and audiovisual stimuli, representing variations of six contextual factors over three sessions in a one month period. For each stimulus, reactions were detected in the client's four peripheral autonomic nervous system signals using a rule-based classification algorithm.</p> <p> <italic>Results</italic>: During the presentation of audiovisual stimuli, the number of physiological reactions significantly differed from that observed in baseline (<italic>χ</italic>² = 3.93, <italic>p</italic> = 0.0476). Aural stimuli articulated in an unfamiliar voice, and aural stimuli containing anticipatory patterns were also physiologically arousing. Fingertip temperature was the client's most labile physiological signal.</p> <p> <italic>Conclusions</italic>: The results of this case study suggest that physiological data may complement caregiver acumen in deciphering the reactions of non-verbal clients with severe and multiple disabilities.</p> </abstract>