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 YU 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.”