The use of assistive technology for cognition to support the performance of daily activities for individuals with cognitive disabilities due to traumatic brain injury: The current state of the research

Issue title: Assistive Technologies for Cognition/Cognitive Support Technologies

Guest editors: Marcia J. Scherer and Stefano Federici

Article type: Review Article

Authors: Leopold, Anne^{a; *} | Lourie, Anna^a | Petras, Hanno^{b; c} | Elias, Eileen^{a; d}

Affiliations: [a] JBS International, Inc., North Bethesda, MD, USA | [b] American Institutes for Research, Washington, DC, USA | [c] Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA | [d] College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Sargent College, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Anne Leopold, MSc, Program Manager and Disability Research Analyst, JBS International, Inc., 5515 Security Lane, Suite 800, North Bethesda, MD 20852, USA. Tel.: +1 240 645 4135; E-mail: aleopold@jbsinternational.com

Abstract: BACKGROUND:Many individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) are young and could have many years of productivity ahead of them. However, cognitive impairments may hinder individuals’ ability to perform daily tasks. Assistive technology for cognition (ATC) can be effective in helping compensate for cognitive impairments. OBJECTIVE:This study examined the current state of the research on using ATCs to support daily activities for individuals with cognitive disabilities that are due to TBI. METHODS:A comprehensive systematic literature search was performed to identify peer-reviewed articles published between 2000 and 2015. To evaluate the nature of the research, qualitative data were extracted pertaining to recruitment, participant characteristics, intervention design, type of ATCs and their functions, matching individuals with ATCs, training for using the ATC, and outcomes. RESULTS:Research examining the effectiveness of ATCs as everyday compensatory tools for cognitive impairments that are due to TBI is limited. The majority of studies were case studies or quasi-experimental studies with small sample sizes. Studies showed positive associations between use of ATCs and individuals’ abilities to perform tasks regardless of age, TBI severity, and time since injury. CONCLUSIONS:Future research should assess the match between the individual and the technology, study the impact of training on using ATCs, and analyze the usability of ATCs.

Keywords: Traumatic brain injury, assistive technology for cognition, cognitive impairments, daily activities, literature review

DOI: 10.3233/NRE-151267

Journal: NeuroRehabilitation, vol. 37, no. 3, pp. 359-378, 2015