1,090 research outputs found
Fostering Daily Life Skills in Young and Older Adults With Neurodegenerative Diseases Through Technological Supports
No full textPersons with neurodegenerative diseases may have behavioral, cognitive, emotional, motor, and social impairments due to their clinical conditions. The objective of this article is to provide the reader with the newest empirical contributions available and a comprehensive critical overview on the use of assistive technology-based interventions and virtual reality-mediated setups to assess and recover individuals with neurodegenerative diseases. A literature overview was carried out. Thirty-one studies published along last decade were selected. The retained studies overall recruited 438 participants. Four categories of studies were identified, namely (1) recovering of functional and physical activities, (2) communication abilities, (3) leisure and recreation, and (4) virtual reality. AT-based interventions were effective and suitable to promote adaptive behaviors of patients with neurodegenerative diseases. VR setups were helpful to assess and recover persons with neurodegenerative disorders
Promoting adaptive behaviors by two girls with Rett syndrome through a microswitch-based program
No full textWe assessed a microswitch-based program to improve self-determination to access to preferred stimuli and to foster locomotor behavior by two girls with Rett syndrome and multiple disabilities. To enhance the first behavior (access to preferred stimuli) a wobble microswitch (sensitive touch sensor) was used while for the second behavior (step responses) optic sensors were applied. A second aim of the study was to monitor indices of happiness as consequence of the use of assistive technology. Finally, a third objective of the study was the reduction of hand washing and body rocking related stereotypies. The study was carried out according to a multiple probe design across behaviors for both participants, where the two behaviors were first learned independently, then combined together. Results showed an increasing of performance and of indices of happiness and a decreasing of stereotyped behaviors for both participants during intervention phases. Practical, psychological and clinical implications of the findings are discussed
Promoting Object Manipulation and Reducing Tongue Protrusion in Seven Children with Angelman Syndrome and Developmental Disabilities through Microswitch-Cluster Technology: a Research Extension
No full textWe further extended the use of a microswitch-cluster technology to promote object manipulation and to reduce tongue protrusion in seven children with Angelman syndrome. Study I included seven participants with severe to profound developmental disabilities. An ABB(1)AB(1)experimental sequence was implemented. During the baselines (i.e., A phases) the technology was available but inactive. During the intervention (i.e., B phase) the adaptive responding was positively reinforced irrespective of the challenging behavior. During the cluster (i.e., B(1)phases) the adaptive responding was contingently reinforced only if it occurred free of the challenging behavior. A long-term follow-up (i.e., 24 months) was conducted. Intervals with indices of positive participation as an outcome measure of the participants' constructive engagement and favorable occupation were additionally recorded. Study II recruited 56 external raters (i.e., equally divided in 4 groups among caregivers, physiotherapists, psychologists, and teachers) in a social validation procedure. Results evidenced the effectiveness and the suitability of the technology to pursue the dual goal (i.e., increasing the adaptive responding and simultaneously decreasing the challenging behavior). All the participants consolidated their learning process and positively participated along the intervention phases. Social raters favorably scored the use of the technology. Educational, clinical, psychological, and rehabilitative implications of the findings were critically discussed. Some useful insights for future research and practice were emphasized
An Overview of the Technological Options for Promoting Communication Skills of Children With Cerebral Palsy
No full textThis chapter provides the reader with a selective overview of the empirical contributions available in
literature on the use of assistive technology-based interventions for promoting communication skills of
children with cerebral palsy. Four categories were selected regarding (1) microswitches and computers,
(2) aided-alternative and augmentative communication devices, (3) eye tracking, and (4) robots. Overall,
18 studies were retained, and 47 participants were included. Results were largely positive although a
few failures occurred. Clinical, psychological, and rehabilitative implications for research and practice
were critically discussed
La spazzatura nel cimitero. Archeologia del rito funebre da Cornus a Cencelle
No full textIl contributo riprende il problema dei depositi intenzionali legati al rito del refrigerium all'interno delle aree funerarie di età tardoantica. L'analisi e la lettura della questione diventa occasione di utilizzo della metodologia per lo studio dei cimiteri del pieno medioevo, per i quali la ricerca archeologica ha minori strumenti di approccio ed inferiore esperienza
Large-signal device simulation in time- and frequency-domain: a comparison
No full textThe aim of this paper is to compare the most common time- and frequency-domain numerical techniques for the determination of the steady-state solution in the physics-based simulation of a semiconductor device driven by a time-periodic generator. The shooting and harmonic balance (HB) techniques are applied to the solution of the discretized drift-diffusion device model coupled to the external circuit embedding the semiconductor device, thus providing a fully nonlinear mixed mode simulation. The comparison highlights the strong and weak points of the two approaches, basically showing that the time-domain solution is more robust with respect to the initial condition, while the HB solution provides a more rapid convergence once the initial datum is close enough to the solution itsel
Editorial: Neuropsychological and Cognitive-Behavioral Assessment of Neurodegenerative Disease and Rehabilitation Using New Technologies and Virtual Reality
No full textNo abstract availabl
Editorial: The integration of the technology in clinical settings among neurological populations
No full textFostering Locomotion Fluency of Five Adolescents with Rett Syndrome through a Microswitch-Based Program: Contingency Awareness and Social Rating
No full textWe further extended the use of a microswitch-based program for assessing contingency awareness and promoting locomotion fluency of five adolescents with Rett syndrome. A second goal was to evaluate the effectiveness and the suitability of the rehabilitative intervention on participants' indices of happiness as outcome measure of their quality of life and on the reduction of their stereotypic behaviors. Finally, a social validation procedure involving 40 parents of children with severe developmental disabilities and 40 caregivers was carried out. The study was conducted according to an ABABCBCB experimental sequence for each participant, with A representing baselines, B indicating the contingent intervention closely linked to the adaptive responding, and C reporting a non-contingent control phase with positive stimulation occurring throughout the session, irrespective of the adaptive behavior. Results showed an improved performance for all the participants during contingent intervention phases. The control phases revealed that all participants acquired the contingency awareness. The indices of happiness increased as sign of an enhanced quality of life. Both groups of raters favorably scored the use of such technology. Clinical, practical, and psychological implications of the findings were discussed
Matching Assistive Technology, Telerehabilitation, and Virtual Reality to Promote Cognitive Rehabilitation and Communication Skills in Neurological Populations: A Perspective Proposal
No full textNeurological populations (NP) commonly experience several impairments. Beside motor and sensorial delays, communication and intellectual disabilities are included. The COVID-19 pandemic has suddenly exacerbated their clinical conditions due to lockdown, quarantine, and social distancing preventive measures. Healthcare services unavailability has negatively impacted NP clinical conditions, partially mitigated by vaccine diffusion. One way to overcome this issue is the use of technology-aided interventions for both assessment and rehabilitative purposes. Assistive technology-based interventions, telerehabilitation, and virtual reality setups have been widely adopted to help individuals with neurological damages or injuries. Nevertheless, to the best of our knowledge, their matching (i.e., combination or integration) has rarely been investigated. The main objectives of the current position paper were (a) to provide the reader with a perspective proposal on the matching of the three aforementioned technological solutions, (b) to outline a concise background on the use of technology-aided solutions, (c) to argue on the effectiveness and the suitability of technology-mediated programs, and (d) to postulate an integrative proposal to support cognitive rehabilitation including assistive technology, telerehabilitation, and virtual reality. Practical implications for both research and practice are critically discussed
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