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The project Implementing and evaluating Smart Phone Applications technology across the NSW Brain Injury Rehabilitation Program (BIRP) aims to:
The Project Coordinator is: Emma Charters, Speech Pathologist, Liverpool Health Service. Search Apps by Phone Type and App Use category | Search Apps by App Name
Smart phones Smart phones give people with brain injury new opportunities for achieving their goals. Smart phones offer some opportunities not available through more traditional means. Smart phones:
There are five different kinds of smart phones with different operating systems and specifications.
Smart phones for clients There are specific situations when a Smart Phone may be useful to clients This web site has many documents you may find useful in using smart phones with clients. Here is a walkthrough of all the documents.
Some frequently asked questions are:
Trialing Smart Phones with clients Clinicians planning to implement a trial of a smart phone as an assistive device may find the following information and resources helpful to prepare and then carry out the initial trial and follow through on recommendations. The information is separated into before and during the trial with both blank and completed templates. The measurement tools are examples for evaluating the effectiveness of the device, however do not form an exhaustive list. Before the Trial During the Trial Example of Measurement tools for the Trial
There are thousands of smart phone applications. There are smart phone applications that are particularly useful for people with brain injury. They include smart phone applications to support people with:
Smart phone Applications: Information for Clinicians including:
Search Apps by Phone Type and App Use category The phone Apps in the database are those that have been reviewed as part of The project Implementing and evaluating Smart Phone Applications technology across the NSW Brain Injury Rehabilitation Program (BIRP). There are several hundrend Apps currently in the database. If you are new to smart phones you may find some Tips and How To's useful. I-Phone Tips and How To's for Clinicians
Patient and Caregiver Quick Reference Training package
Devices can also obtained on a trial basis. There are five sources of funding to assist people with brain injury with assistive technology. Each has there own guidelines. They are:
Funding bodies, contacts and processes Trial devices Enable Forms
Lifetime Care & Support Forms
Workers Compensation Forms
Introduction There are many sources of information on the Internet about smart phones, their applications and uses. Some starting points are: How wireless technology can benefit people with disabilities Applications specific to different carriers For more information about the applications specific to different carriers please refer to the following websites: Apple:
Android:
Nokia:
Windows:
Blackberry:
Apple Using iPod touch, iPhone and iPad to engage in various education opportunities. Outlines ‘apps’ available, resources e.g. iBooks and iTunes U and accessibility innovations specific to education and work.
How Apple products (including iPod touch, iPad and iPhone) can support education, for primary, secondary or tertiary learners and workers. Includes links to Apple’s accessibility features, tutorials and ‘activity step cards’ regarding their key innovations. Vision Australia’s evaluation for Apple products specifically relating to the effectiveness of Apple features to allow people with vision impairments to access the device. Audio podcasts created by David Woodbridge on how to use iPod touch and iPad with VoiceOver for people with vision impairments or dyslexia. List of Augmentative and Alternative (AAC) Apps with a brief description and product details.
List of apps for the iPhone and iPad that are categorised by learning areas such as language and literacy, communication, productivity, science, maths etc. Handbook outlining how to use the iPad to support special education needs using apps across the domains of organisation, communication, reading, writing, maths, art, music and games. Assistive technology available to allow people with a range of communication, physical or cognitive needs to utilise iPhone, iPod touch and iPad systems. Resources and links are also provided relating to software and hardware products which enhance the accessibility of Apple products. Android Article detailing non-visual accessibility options and a screen reader for android smart phones. Also mentions physical navigation control such as trackball or trackpad.
Information for people with vision impairments
Comparison of smart phones which support Android technology. Details of each phone’s keyboard, touch pad, volume control and screen layout are described in detail
Description of accessibility services available through the Android market e.g. a synthesized speech to describe events or actions and text to speech options.
List of apps for Android smart phones categorised by device management, email, entertainment, music and video, navigation, productivity, shopping, social, tools and web.
Android accessibility interest group
List of apps available on the android market categorised by business, communication, education, entertainment, health and fitness, finance, lifestyle, music, productivity, shopping etc. List of apps available on the android market for people with various disabilities e.g. AgileAssyst, a task scheduler with a simplified user interface, visual and auditory prompts to assist people with autism, traumatic brain injury, cognitive disability, or Alzheimer’s Disease plan and carry out daily tasks. Some of the evidence in the literature Culley, C & Evans, J (2010) SMS text messaging as a means of increasing recall of therapy goals in brain injury rehabilitation: A single-blind within-subjects trial Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, 20:1, 103-119 Hart, T., Buchhofer, R. & Vaccaro, M. (2004) Portable Electronic Devices as Memory and Organizational Aids After Traumatic Brain Injury: A Consumer Survey Study Journal of Head Trauma rehabilitation VOL 19 5ZZ) PP 351 – 365 Svoboda, E. & Richards, B. (2009) Compensating for anterograde amnesia: A new training method that capitalizes on emerging smartphone technologies Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society vol 15 pp 629 - 638 Svoboda, E. & Richards, B. (2009) Compensating for anterograde amnesia: A new training method that capitalizes on emerging smartphone technologies Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society vol 15 pp 629 - 638 Teasdale, T., Emslie, H., Quik, K., Evans, J., Fish, J. & Wilson, B. (2009) Alleviation of carer strain during the use of the NeuroPage device by people with acquired brain injury Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry vol 80 pp 781 – 783 Wilson, B., Evans, J., Emslie, H., & Bartram, C. (2001). Comparison of pocket-computer memory aids for people with brain injury. Brain Injury, 15, 787-800. Ptak, R., Van der Linden, M. & Schnider, A. (2010) Cognitive rehabilitation of episodic memory disorders: from theory to practice frontiers in human neuroscience vol 4 article 57 pp 1 - 11 Thornton, K., and Carmody, D., (2008). Efficacy of traumatic brain injury rehabilitation: Interventions of QEEG-guided biofeedback, computers, strategies and medications. Vol, 33, pg 101-124. Wallace, T. & Bradshaw, A. (2011) Technologies and Strategies for people with communication problems following brain injury or stroke NeuroRehabilitation vol 28 pp 199-209
The Project The project Implementing and evaluating Smart Phone Applications technology across the NSW Brain Injury Rehabilitation Program aims to:
The Project Coordinator is: Emma Charters, Speech Pathologist, Liverpool Health Service. Acknowledgements The important contribution of Liverpool Hospital to this project is acknowledged, for convening the Working Party and for funding the project co-ordinator role undertaken by Emma Charters (Speech Pathologist). Acknowledgement is also extended to Dr Adeline Hodgkinson (Director, Brain Injury Rehabilitation Directorate) for supporting the project. The members of the Implementing and evaluating Smart Phone Applications technology across the NSW Brain Injury Rehabilitation Program (BIRP) Working Party are acknowledged for their expertise, advice and contributions to the project. The Working Party The Project Working Party includes:
Background TBI Between 2004 and 2005, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) Research & Statistics Series reported that over 22 000 Australians were hospitalised after sustaining a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Of these, falls, motor vehicle accidents and assaults were the highest incidents leading to a hospital admission . Helps, Henley and Harrison (2008) identified that males who are aged between 15-24 and 80-85 were at a higher risk of sustaining a TBI. The AIHW also note that of these admissions, almost 12 000 required ongoing services specialising in TBI. A TBI can lead to changes relating to a person’s physical, psychological, cognitive and communication abilities. These changes have implications for the person’s family, friends, caregivers and the community at large. Costly and lengthy hospital admissions, extensive post hospital care and difficulty carrying out their premorbid roles and responsibilities are examples of the economic and social implications following a TBI . In addition to these, individual impairments such as physical strength and coordination, cognitive, communication, memory and executive functioning difficulties can lead to difficulty initiating simple routines such as self care, taking medications, recalling their medical history or following through with recommendations made by health care professionals. Smart phones In recent years, the range of technological devices that are available to assist with everyday activities have expanded rapidly. In particular, the Smart Phone varieties provide a handheld device which functions as a telephone, internet service and has multiple applications available for download. Clinicians in health care settings have begun to use this technology to assist their clients with a range of individualised therapy tasks . Recent literature (including studies carried out in 2008 by Schoenberg et al and Thorton et al) have shown that a Smart Phone has the ability to compensate for executive functioning and communication impairments where traditional devices have been unsuccessful. Participants have been trialled using a Smart Phone to replace traditionally recommended devices such as alarm clocks, calendars and verbal prompting from a caregiver. To date, functional improvements following the implementation of a Smart Phone into a client’s management plan have included improved recall, initiation of a target behaviour or goal, planning and organisation skills (Wright et al 2001, Blackstone et al, 2007 and Kennedy et al 2008). Trials In practice, clinicians specialising in brain injury rehabilitation across the Sydney Metropolitan Area have started trials with various types of Smart Phones and applications. These clinicians have reported that a Smart Phone can successfully prompt activities of daily living, record important details, provide a means of communication across a range of modalities and facilitates the storage of a large amount of information in a secure location. For many patients this tool has replaced their need for multiple tools which are not age or socially acceptable, with a single portable device able to be used in a range of environments. Pilot study A pilot study has been carried out in Liverpool Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit (BIRU) at Liverpool Hospital. Five single study case trials were completed with patients admitted to Liverpool BIRU in 2010. In each of these cases, the Smart Phone facilitated the interdisciplinary and patient centred goal setting in order to attain effective therapeutic and compensatory outcomes. Outcomes included; improved communication, executive functioning skills, and completion of activities of daily living and increased compliance with physiotherapy recommendations. The reasons behind the preliminary success of the smart phone as opposed to traditional devices are likely to vary significantly between individuals. They may include one or more of the following;
Updated: June 2012 |
