Empowering Recovery: Considerations of Assistive Technology in Supporting Brain Injury Rehabilitation 1966

Due to potential impairments with cognition, communication, and/or motor planning, assistive technology is often not utilized effectively for patients recovering from brain injuries. Devices that have been used with individuals with other diagnoses, such as spinal cord injuries, may be difficult for patients with traumatic or anoxic brain injury to use and would require adaptation or different technology to address these patient's specific needs. Current evidence supports the use of assistive technology in the rehabilitation of individuals with brain injuries. However, clinicians often lack the knowledge on how to assess the need for, integrate, and implement such technology in treatment for this population. We will present a series of individual cases of brain injury patients with significant cognitive or motor impairments who benefitted from the use of assistive technology tailored to their unique needs. We will also discuss clinical implementation of assistive technology in the brain injury population at our facility, the challenges associated with access and use, and future opportunities.