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ERIC Number: EJ718425
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2005-Sep
Pages: 8
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0964-2633
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Extending the Evaluation of a Computer System Used as a Microswitch for Word Utterances of Persons with Multiple Disabilities
Lancioni, G. E.; O'Reilly, M. F.; Singh, N. N.; Sigafoos, J.; Oliva, D.; Montironi, G.; Savino, M.; Bosco, A.
Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, v49 n9 p639-646 Sep 2005
Background: Microswitches can be vital tools to help individuals with extensive multiple disabilities acquire control of environmental stimulation. This study was aimed at extending the evaluation of a computer system used as a microswitch for word utterances with three participants with multiple disabilities. Method: Sets of 7 or 12 word utterances were used for the participants. The utterances were divided into three groups, which were exposed to intervention successively. During the intervention and a 2-month post-intervention check, the participants' emission of the target utterances led the system to present favourite, matching stimuli (i.e. provided that it recognized the utterances). Results: Intervention data showed that (1) the participants increased the frequencies of the target utterances and (2) the computer system recognized approximately 80% of those utterances. These findings were maintained at the post-intervention check. An analysis of the levels of occurrence of individual utterances showed statistically significant differences among them, in line with the notions of preference and choice. Conclusions: The computer system was useful as a microswitch to enable access to favourite stimuli. There is a need to improve the accuracy of the system with respect to its recognition of the participants' utterances.
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Publication Type: Information Analyses; Journal Articles
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A