THE DISABILITY EXPERIENCE CONFERENCE

S A RA H H O L M E SR E R C O N T E L E R E H A B I L I T A T I O N

U P M C C E N T E R F O R A S S I S T I V E T E C H N O L O G Y

U N I V E R S I T Y O F P I T T S B U R G H

REMOTE EVALUATION & AAC USE: A CASE STUDY

Special thanks to Andy Jinks, MA CCC-SLP , Dr. Richard Simpson and the University of Pittsburgh RERC on Telerehabilitation for their kind assistance on this project.

WHAT IS AAC?

• Augmentative & Alternative Communication

• Means of speaking and writing for anyone who has difficulty communicating

• Can be high- or low-tech

TYPES OF DEVICESL O W T E C H :

E Y E G A Z E C O M M U N I C A T I O N

B O A R D

H I G H T E C H :

S P E E C H G E N E R A T I N G

D E V I C E

WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM DEVICE USE?

GOING HIGH TECH

• Acceptance of device use has expanded as technology has become an integral part of daily life• Increases in acceptance have been

documented in adults with TBI1,2

CLIENT PROFILE

• 40-year-old female • Lives in rural Pennsylvania (3

hours from clinic)• B.A. in Equestrian Science;

English minor, began M.B.A.• Closed head injury in 1995

(MVA)

CLIENT PROFILE (CONTD)

• Persistent weakness on right side

• Has regained use of arms and hands

• Working on transitioning from wheelchair to walker

SPEECH DIAGNOSIS: SEVERE FLACCID DYSARTHRIA

Characteristics:• Breathiness• Short Phrases• Imprecise Consonants

• Hoarse Vocal Quality• Monopitch• Monoloudness

Intelligibility= < 50%

CHOOSING A DEVICE: REMOTE EVALUATION

• Graduate Student Assistant travels to client’s home

• Sets up remote evaluation session with expert clinician at Center for Assistive Technology

NOVA CHAT 60

FOLLOW –UP EVALUATIONS

• Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Device Scale (PIADS)•Quality of Life outcome measures

• Proficiency Probe for Competence Levels of AAC Users•Measure of skill level in 4 domains

“The one question asked if I felt more 'in charge'. I wanted to expand on that a bit. 'Very much so.' would be my reply. I think for years I have depended on my Mom to do things for me.

Now, I can, and do, speak for myself.”