When directions fail: Investigation of getting lost behaviour in adults with acquired brain injury

Abstract

Primary objective: To investigate and describe getting lost behaviour and wayfinding strategies among acquired brain injury (ABI) survivors and matched controls.

Research design: Matched control group comparison design.

Methods and procedures: This study compared wayfinding performance of 18 adults with acquired brain injury to controls matched for gender, age and education. Participants followed written directions along an eight-step route in an unfamiliar neighbourhood, with three intentionally challenging choice-points. They used a cellular phone to request assistance if they became lost. Dependent measures included accuracy, directness and wayfinding strategy. Statistical and qualitative analyses explored group themes and differences.

Main results: Participants with ABI demonstrated significantly greater on-route wayfinding errors and hesitancy than matched controls. The ABI group requested assistance over the cell phone more frequently than controls and required more attempts at re-orientation with concrete, salient directions in order to re-orient in the field. Participants in the control group anticipated errors with greater frequency than those with ABI.

Conclusions: ABI survivors demonstrated greater challenges with wayfinding than matched controls. Re-orientation required concrete, explicit redirection with reference to salient landmarks. Implications for clinical practice and assistive technology are discussed.

• Navigation
• wayfinding
• brain injury