Method for selecting communication devices for non-speaking patients
First Claim
1. Method for prescribing a communication device for a patient with a neuromoter deficit affecting speech comprising:
- assessing the patient'"'"'s motor abilities for control of a keyboard-type device, said motor ability assessing including measuring reach envelope ability, actuation force ability, and actuation accuracy ability;
assessing characteristics of each of a plurality of keyboard-type communication devices, said characteristics assessing including deriving an expert keystroke history for each said keyboard-type device for production of a sample text corpus; and
evaluating the results of each said assessing to prescribe a communication device for the patient.
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Abstract
A computer-assisted method for prescribing communication devices for non-speaking patients which is objective, and is not device-limited and functions as an effective tool for clinicians prescribing communication devices. Because the method is not device-limited, it may also be used to test the effect of design changes in device characteristics which affect the fit of the device to the user and the communication rate achieved; and enables a direct comparison to be made among devices, based on scoring the user-device pair. The method comprises the compilation of data concerning client needs and preferences as well as the client cognitive and learning characteristics; assessing the patient'"'"'s motor abilities for control of devices; assessing the characteristics of a variety of communication devices; and using a computer program and specially developed formulas to integrate, compare, and assess the results so as to arrive at a communication device best suited for the client'"'"'s needs.
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Citations
49 Claims
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1. Method for prescribing a communication device for a patient with a neuromoter deficit affecting speech comprising:
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assessing the patient'"'"'s motor abilities for control of a keyboard-type device, said motor ability assessing including measuring reach envelope ability, actuation force ability, and actuation accuracy ability; assessing characteristics of each of a plurality of keyboard-type communication devices, said characteristics assessing including deriving an expert keystroke history for each said keyboard-type device for production of a sample text corpus; and evaluating the results of each said assessing to prescribe a communication device for the patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. Method for prescribing a communication device for a patient with a neuromoter deficit affecting speech, which method utilizes a single input switch connected to a computer screen consisting of an upper row comprising a series of box outlines wherein one of said boxes is filled in with a target, and a cross hair cursor controlled by the switch and capable of moving across a bottom row on the screen in the manner of a one dimensional scanner, said method comprising:
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closing and releasing the switch as quickly as possible when the cursor matches the target, whereby the response timeduring a single strike and the dwell time or closure-to-release time is measured; closing the switch twice as quickly as possible when the cursor matches the target; repeating both of said steps at decreasing scanning intervals until the client can no longer successfully complete the task; increasing the scanning interval to the last successful scanning interval, and decreasing said interval in smaller steps than previously until the client fails for a second time to perform the task, whereby the response time during a repeated strike as well as the time between successive switch closures is measured.
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49. Method for prescribing an encoded type of communication device for a patient with a neuromoter deficit affecting speech, utilizing on/off switches affixed to various parts of the patient'"'"'s body, comprising:
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sequentially closing a pair of randomly designated switches; measuring the time between closure of one switch and closure of the second switch in the pair; repeating the performance until combinations of switching pairs have been exhausted; determining the average values of the closure to closure times for all pairs of switches; calculating a motor determined maximum rate for each of said encoded communication devices using the frequency with which switch closure at each input jack is followed by closure at all other input jacks and the closure-to-closure time required for each switch pair.
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Specification