Communicative Interaction with and without Eye-Gaze Technology between Children and Youths with Complex Needs and Their Communication PartnersShow others and affiliations
2021 (English)In: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, ISSN 1661-7827, E-ISSN 1660-4601, Vol. 18, no 10, article id 5134
Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Sustainable development
Sustainable Development
Abstract [en]
Use of eye-gaze assistive technology (EGAT) provides children/youths with severe motor and speech impairments communication opportunities by using eyes to control a communication interface on a computer. However, knowledge about how using EGAT contributes to communication and influences dyadic interaction remains limited. Aim: By video-coding dyadic interaction sequences, this study investigates the impacts of employing EGAT, compared to the Non-EGAT condition on the dyadic communicative interaction. Method: Participants were six dyads with children/youths aged 4–19 years having severe physical disabilities and complex communication needs. A total of 12 film clips of dyadic communication activities with and without EGAT in natural contexts were included. Based on a systematic coding scheme, dyadic communication behaviors were coded to determine the interactional structure and communicative functions. Data were analyzed using a three-tiered method combining group and individual analysis. Results: When using EGAT, children/youths increased initiations in communicative interactions and tended to provide more information, while communication partners made fewer communicative turns, initiations, and requests compared to the Non-EGAT condition. Communication activities, eye-control skills, and communication abilities could influence dyadic interaction. Conclusion: Use of EGAT shows potential to support communicative interaction by increasing children’s initiations and intelligibility, and facilitating symmetrical communication between dyads.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
MDPI, 2021. Vol. 18, no 10, article id 5134
Keywords [en]
complex communication needs; severe physical disabilities; eye-gaze controlled computer; communicative interaction
National Category
Occupational Therapy Psychology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-52463DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18105134ISI: 000654874900001PubMedID: 34066169Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85105751667Local ID: GOA;intsam;52463OAI: oai:DiVA.org:hj-52463DiVA, id: diva2:1554611
Funder
Swedish Research Council, 2015-024272021-05-172021-05-172021-06-18Bibliographically approved