https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8962-196X
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Abstract
Purpose
This study investigates the psychosocial impact of eye-gaze assistive technology (EGAT) in both children and adults with long-term experience using eye-gaze assistive technology in everyday life, as well as the psychosocial impact as related to duration of use.
Methods
In this descriptive comparative study, 34 adult and 27 child EGAT users participated in a structured individual interview using the Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scale (PIADS).
Results
The participants’ age ranged from 5–74 years, 50% were female and 52% had been diagnosed with cerebral palsy. The EGAT had a positive psychosocial impact on competence, adaptability, and self-esteem among adult and child users. Competence was the only subscale with a higher value for adults (p = 0.038), compared to children. The items with the highest impact for the psychosocial aspects were quality of life, ability to participate, and self-esteem. The adults had longer duration of use than children, but for high-, medium-, and low-duration users, the device showed a positive psychosocial impact.
Conclusions
Participants considered EGAT to have high positive impacts for participation and quality of life. The study adds new knowledge in that high positive psychosocial impact may be found even among low-duration users of EGAT, which is important to consider for service providers.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to acknowledge research assistant Helli Kangas for her contribution to data collection during the study. The authors would also like to thank the participants for their valuable contributions.
Author contributions
Maria Borgestig and Helena Hemmingsson were responsible for the conception and design of the study. Maria Andreassen has done statistical analyses. All authors have interpreted the data. Maria Andreassen has led the preparation of the manuscript and all authors have been involved in critically reviewing the content of the manuscript. Final approval of the version to be published has been approved by all authors and all authors have agreed to be responsible for all aspects of the work.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Data availability statement
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, [MA], upon reasonable request.