New Research Articles

2007-0185

Promoting Interactions With Infants Who Have Complex Multiple Disabilities : Development and Field-Testing of the PLAI Curriculum --Chen, Deborah, PhD; Klein, Diane M., CCC-SLP, PhD; Haney, Michele, PhD. INFANTS AND YOUNG CHILDREN, vol. 20, #2, April-June 2007, pp149-162. (2007) This article describes primary outcomes of the development and field-testing of the curriculum "Promoting Learning Through Active Interaction" with 27 infants and their caregivers and early interventionists in 2 different states. The curriculum was designed to provide a systematic approach to supporting interactions with infants who have sensory impairments and complex multiple disabilities and who are at the preintentional level of communication. Participating infants had both a visual impairment and hearing loss and additional disabilities. Their families represented diverse socioeconomic, educational, and cultural backgrounds, and participating early interventionists varied widely in their qualifications. Results indicate that a diverse group of families used the strategies successfully and found them to be helpful in supporting their children's interactions and communication development. The article outlines key components of the curriculum and discusses evaluation data on the basis of caregiver feedback on use of strategies and analysis of videotaped observations on the caregivers' use of sensory cues with their infants.

2006-0316

Interaction Between the Teacher and the Congenitally Deafblind Child --Vervloed, Mathijs P. J.; van Dijk, Rick J. M.; Knoors, Harry; van Dijk, Jan P. M. AMERICAN ANNALS OF THE DEAF, vol. 151, #3, pp. 336-344. (2006) This article describes a detailed case study that analyzed videotaped interactions between a teacher and a deafblind boy aged three years and four months. The types and quality of interactions that occurred during videotaped sessions of daily activities (bathing, dressing, and playing with favorite objects) are described. The authors note that "empirical data on development, interaction, communication, and language in deafblind children is very rare," and propose that the method of analyzing interactions used for this study could be replicated and used in future research.

2006-0280

Longterm Visual Prognosis in Usher Syndrome Types 1 and 2 --Sadeghi, Andre M.; Eriksson, Kristina; Kimberling, William J.; Sjostrom, Anders; Moller, Claes. ACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, vol. 84, #4, pp. 537-544. (2006) This was a retrospective study of 329 individuals in Sweden and the United States with Usher syndrome types 1 and 2. Study subjects ranged in age from 4 to 87 years and were divided into seven different groups by decade. The study found that progressive visual acuity and visual field loss begins to be substantial between the second and third decades of life in both types of Usher syndrome, with the rate of degeneration varying between individuals. Retinitis pigmentosa was diagnosed significantly earlier in those with Usher syndrome type 1 than in those with type 2. Visual acuity was significantly more impaired in those with type 1 than in those with type 2 from 50 years of age onwards. Cataract was also found to be more common in Usher syndrome type 1 than type 2.

2006-0293

A Microswitch-based Program to Enable Students with Multiple Disabilities to Choose Among Environmental Stimuli --Lancioni, Giulio E.; O'Reilly, Mark F.; Singh, Nirbhay N.; Sigafoos, Jeff; Didden, Robert; Oliva, Doretta; Severini, Laura. JOURNAL OF VISUAL IMPAIRMENT AND BLINDNESS, vol. 100, #8, August 2006, pp. 488-493. (2006) This article describes a study that evaluated the use of microswitches to allow children with multiple disabilities to choose among environmental stimuli. The study used a concurrent multiple baseline design and involved two students (ages 6 and 14) with minimal residual vision, spastic tetraparesis, and, reportedly, severe to profound intellectual disability. The microswitch was activated by a vocalization response and a computer program was used for the presentation of preferred and nonpreferred stimuli. During the baseline phase, microswitch activations occurred for 30% or less of the preferred and nonpreferred stimuli available for the two students. During the intervention phase, activations occurred for about 90% of the preferred stimuli and about 10% of the nonpreferred stimuli for both students. Postintervention data was similar to that of the intervention phase.

2006-0116

Visual Impairments in People with Severe and Profound Multiple Disabilities : An Inventory of Visual Functioning --van den Broek, E. G. C.; Janssen, C. G. C.; van Ramshorst, T.; Deen, L. JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH, vol. 50, #6, June 2006, pp. 470-475. (2006) This study evaluated the visual functioning of 76 clients with severe and profound intellectual and motor disabilities living in a Dutch care facility. The majority, had a profound intellectual disability (83%), cerebral palsy (61%), or epilepsy (71%). Hearing status is not mentioned in article. Their ages ranged from 4 to 74 years (average 33). The prevalence of impaired visual acuity was 92%. Prior to the study, only 30% were known to have visual problems. The severity of visual impairment was related to the severity of intellectual disability. A high prevalence of severe and profound visual impairment and blindness was found. In addition to impaired visual acuity, more than half had reduced visual fields. In 22%, refractive errors were identified and glasses recommended.

2006-0109

Are We Leaving Our Children behind? : State Deaf-Blind Coordinators' Perceptions of Large-Scale Assessment --Towles-Reeves, Elizabeth; Kampfer-Bohach, Stephanie; Garrett, Brent; Kearns, Jacqueline F.; Grisham-Brown, Jennifer. JOURNAL OF DISABILITY POLICY STUDIES, vol. 17, #1, pp. 40-48. (2006) Researchers surveyed 52 deaf-blind project coordinators to gain an understanding of their knowledge and involvement with their state's large-scale assessment systems in regard to students with deaf-blindness. Findings revealed (a) uncertainty regarding how well students with deaf-blindness fare in large-scale assessment systems, and (b) that deaf-blind coordinators have had minimal opportunity to utilize their expertise in the development and implementation of state general and alternate large-scale assessments. If the NCLB Act (2002) is to achieve its policy goal of improving the academic performance of all students, greater attention must be paid to subgroups of students, such as those with deaf-blindness.

2006-0110

Applying the Diagnostic Intervention Model for Fostering Harmonious Interactions Between Deaf-Blind Children and Their Educators : A Case Study --Janssen, Marleen J.; Riksen-Walraven, J. Marianne; van Dijk, Jan P. M. JOURNAL OF VISUAL IMPAIRMENT AND BLINDNESS, vol. 100, #2, February 2006, pp. 91-105. (2006) In an earlier article, the authors presented the Diagnostic Intervention Model for use as a guide in the design and conduct of interventions to foster harmonious interactions between children who are deaf-blind and their educators in various settings. This current article, demonstrates the use of the model in everyday practice and the effects of its application in a case study of one child. The implications of the case for everyday practice are discussed.

2006-0115

Audiologic Performance and Benefit of Cochlear Implantation in Usher syndrome type I --Pennings, Ronald J. E.; Damen, Godelieve W. J. A.; Snik, Ad F. M.; Hoefsloot, Lies; Cremers, Cor W. R. J.; Mylanus, Emmanuel A. M. LARYNGOSCOPE, vol. 116, May 2006, pp. 717-722. (2006) This retrospective study from the Netherlands evaluated the benefit and performance of cochlear implantation in 14 patients with Usher syndrome type I.  A questionnaire was used to measure benefit and equivalent hearing level scores were used to measure performance.  Similar to previous studies, it was demonstrated that implantation at an earlier age results in better performance than implantation at an older age.  Implantation performed with in the first two decades of life was beneficial to 13 of the 14 patients.  Additionally, the benefit of implantation was found to increase as equivalent hearing level scores decreased.

2006-0114

Quality of life and Cochlear Implantation in Usher Syndrome Type I --Damen, Godelieve W. J. A.; Pennings, Ronald J. E.; Snik, Ad F. M.; Mylanus, Emmanuel A. M. LARYNGOSCOPE, vol. 116, May 2006, pp. 723-728. (2006) This study from the Netherlands evaluated quality of life (QoL), hearing, and vision in patients with Usher syndrome type 1, with and without cochlear implants.  QoL of 14 patients (7 adults, 7 children) who had cochlear implants was compared with QoL of 14 patients (12 adults, 2 children) who did not have cochlear implants using three questionnaires and the Usher Lifestyle Survey.  A significant benefit of CI was seen in the hearing-specific questionnaire.  The Usher Lifestyle Survey indicated that patients with the CI tended to be able to live an independent life more easily than the profoundly deaf unimplanted patients.  Overall, the authors concluded that QoL can be enhanced by CI in patients with Usher 1, although effects are mostly seen in hearing-related QoL items.

2006-0078

Deafblind People's Experiences of Cochlear Implantation --Soper, Janet. BRITISH JOURNAL OF VISUAL IMPAIRMENT, vol.  24, #1, pp. 19-28. (2006) This article examines the experience of cochlear implantation in a select group of individuals with acquired deaf-blindness, focusing on three themes: access to communication, information, and mobility.  Research was conducted using semi-structured interviews with five individuals in the UK. It explores participants' feelings about individual problems encountered prior to implantation, the experience of cochlear implant surgery, and the outcome.  The findings confirm that deaf-blindness is a unique disability and that cochlear implants are beneficial terms of improvements to quality-of-life and communication, especially for those who are post-lingually deaf.

2006-0116

Visual Impairments in People with Severe and Profound Multiple Disabilities : An Inventory of Visual Functioning --van den Broek, E. G. C.; Janssen, C. G. C.; van Ramshorst, T.; Deen, L. JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH, vol. 50, #6, June 2006, pp. 470-475. (2006) This study evaluated the visual functioning of 76 clients with severe and profound intellectual and motor disabilities living in a Dutch care facility.  The majority, had a profound intellectual disability (83%), cerebral palsy (61%), or epilepsy (71%).  Hearing status is not mentioned in article.  Their ages ranged from 4 to 74 years (average 33).  The prevalence of impaired visual acuity was 92%.  Prior to the study, only 30% were known to have visual problems.  The severity of visual impairment was related to the severity of intellectual disability.  A high prevalence of severe and profound visual impairment and blindness was found.  In addition to impaired visual acuity, more than half had reduced visual fields.  In 22%, refractive errors were identified and glasses recommended.