A learning assessment procedure to re-evaluate three persons with a diagnosis of post-coma vegetative state and pervasive motor impairment

Abstract

Primary objective: Detecting signs of learning in persons with a diagnosis of post-coma vegetative state and profound motor disabilities could modify their diagnostic label and provide new hopes. In this study, three adults with such a diagnosis were exposed to learning assessment to search for those signs.

Procedure and design: The assessment procedure relied on participants’ eye-blinking responses and microswitch-based technology. The technology consisted of an electronically regulated optic microswitch mounted on an eyeglasses’ frame that the participants wore during the study and an electronic control system connected to stimulus sources. Each participant followed an ABABCB design, in which A represented baseline periods, B intervention periods with stimuli contingent on the responses and C a control condition with stimuli presented non-contingently.

Main outcomes and results: The level of responding during the B phases was significantly higher than the levels observed during the A phases as well as the C phase for all participants (i.e. indicating clear signs of learning by them).

Conclusions: These findings may have important implications for (a) changing the participants’ diagnostic label and offering them new programme opportunities and (b) including learning assessment within the evaluation package used for persons with post-coma profound multiple disabilities.

• Learning assessment
• eye blinking
• microswitch-based technology
• minimally conscious state
• vegetative state