Eyes on communication: trialling eye-gaze control technology in young children with dyskinetic cerebral palsy

ABSTRACT

Purpose: This study aims to identify eye-gaze control technology outcomes, parent perception of the technology and support received, and gauge the feasibility of available measures.

Methods: Five children with dyskinetic cerebral palsy, mean age 4 years, 4 months (1 year, 0 months); n = 4 males; trialled two eye-gaze control technology systems, each for six weeks. Parents completed pre- and post-questionnaires.

Results: Parents found the 6-week home-based trial period to be the right length. Written guidelines and instructions about set-up, calibration, and play and learning activities were perceived as important. Children demonstrated improvements in goal achievement and performance. Parents found questionnaires on quality of life, participation, behaviours involved in mastering a skill and communication outcomes challenging to complete resulting in substantial missing data.

Conclusion: Eye-gaze control technology warrants further investigation for young children with dyskinetic cerebral palsy in a large international study.

KEYWORDS:

• Assistive technology
• communication
• dyskinetic cerebral palsy
• eye-gaze

Acknowledgments

We thank the children and families who participated in this pilot study. We are also grateful for the contributions made by Ange McReynolds (device user) and Sarah Wick (parent to young eye-gaze control technology user) throughout the study. This study received funding from the Roger Montgomery Family Trust and the AuDa Foundation.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this paper.