Despite significant advances in the understanding of pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI)-related sequelae, members of the medical community working with adult survivors often do not appreciate the impact of "latent" effects of these injuries. To assess deficits and facilitate intervention, the interactions among the nature of the TBI, the individual's developmental course, and the history of community response must be understood. This case study discusses the lifelong challenges faced by a 56-year-old individual who sustained a TBI at age 5. His case highlights the importance of developmental stage consideration, remote evaluation/intervention, and collaboration with mental health professionals.

Utilization of microcomputers for treatment of the aphasic adult, while very seductive, continues to be in need of efficacy research. Data based research regarding the use of microcomputers as a viable treatment medium should describe: for whom is this type of treatment appropriate; what specific type of microcomputer treatment software is applicable; when should treatment begin and end; and where can treatment be accomplished? Yet, data based research in aphasiology concerning treatment efficacy remains sparse. This research explores which of two delivery systems, clinician and clinician/assisted micromputer, is more effective in bringmg aphasic patients to a criterion performance. Using an alternating treatment design with multiple internal and external generization probes, 20 aphasic patients were studied. Data for the first 10 patients indicate certain aphasia types and severity levels demonstrated that the clinician was the more effective and efficient delivery system for both fluent and non-fluent aphasic patients in the moderate to marked ranges of severity. This paper will focus on clinical issues regarding the treatment program we utilized different treatment delivery stystems, treatment generalization, aphasia treatment generalization by aphasia type, and future research trends in using microcomputers with this population of patients.

This study measured the temperature acceleration of a cold probe as it contacts human tissue. Both the effects of touching a cold probe to the oral cavity were investigated. The results indicated a rapid warming pattern. This warming is effected first by temperature changes resulting from the probe being moved from ice into room temperature and second by the contact to oral mucosa. In fact, in some cases, the probe had reached minimal cold sensation levels by the time it reached the oral cavity. Results also indicated that 6 sec after the probe is lifted from the ice, the temperature closely approximates temperatures perceived as warm or at least neutral, but not cold.

No abstract

No abstract