Can Survivors of Traumatic Brain Injury Learn to Drive Electric Powered Wheelchairs with Simulator Training?
Donald M. Spaeth, PhD, Harshal Mahajan, MS, Amol Karmarkar, MS Diane Collins, PhD, Rory A. Cooper, PhD, Michael L. Boninger, MD Full article published in Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, pp. 1191-1198, Vol. 89, No. 6, June 2008. Purpose of Work: Not all persons who desire a power wheelchair can obtain it. Clinicians hesitate to recommend a power wheelchair unless adequate driving skills can be demonstrated during the clinical evaluation. Computer simulation offers a less expensive and safer alternative to real-world training for consumers who need help learning to drive. This research is testing an improved force-sensing joystick for individuals unable to use the regular movement sensing joystick. A computer-based wheelchair driving simulator was created to run the comparison trials. Subjects/Procedures: Eight individuals with traumatic brain injury at least one year post injury; 18 to 80 years of age. During the first visit each subject was fitted with a force sensing
