Affiliation:
1. University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
Abstract
Approximately 10–20% of head injury survivors sustain extensive neurological damage and remain minimally or inconsistently responsive to stimuli for 3–6 months postinjury. These patients, designated as slow to recover (STR), may be candidates for sensory stimulation programs rather than traditional rehabilitation. Medical and insurance personnel have resisted referral and payment for treatment because of the lack of objective measures of progress, a theoretical basis for treatment, and evidence of treatment efficacy. A valid, reliable assessment tool has recently been developed (Western Neuro Sensory Stimulation Profile) that assesses low-level cognitive/communicative function and documents improvement in STR patients. This article addresses the theoretical rationale for treatment. Evidence from four areas—sensory deprivation, enriched environments, nervous system plasticity, and sensitive periods of neurodevelopment— suggests that sensory stimulation programs are potentially beneficial for STR patients. Speech-language pathologists are encouraged to study the recovery patterns of STR patients and to determine the efficacy of treatment strategies.
Publisher
American Speech Language Hearing Association
Subject
Speech and Hearing,Linguistics and Language,Language and Linguistics
Reference41 articles.
1. Ansell B. & Keenan J. (1989a). Sensory stimulation and communication strategies: Theory practice and outcome. Paper presented at the Annual Convention of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association St. Louis MO.
2. The Western Neuro Sensory Stimulation Profile: A tool for assessing slow-to-recover head-injured patients;Ansell B.;Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation,1989
3. Traumatic brain injury—The new delivery system;Arakaki A.;Journal of Insurance Medicine,1988
Cited by
20 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献