Assistive Technology for People with Acquired Brain Injury

Acquired brain injury (ABI) is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health [NIH] 2013). It has been reported that over 10 million people incur an ABI yearly across the globe (Bragge et al. 2012) and can cost the United States up to $60 billion annually (Finkelstein et al. 2006). According to the NIH (2013), there are over 5 million people living with ABI in the United States today who require continuous support and assistance in completing daily tasks, particularly in the areas of cognition, physical mobility, adaptive behaviors, and engagement in socially appropriate behavior (Flanagan et al. 2008). These deficits can negatively impact the individual’s social relationships, educational gains, employability, and community life (Ross et al. 2011). ABI refers to damage to the brain after birth resulting in impairments in typical functioning (Fletcher et al. 1990). Causes of ABI can include infection, substance abuse, or loss of oxygen to the brain, as in the case of a stroke (US Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Disease Control [CDC] 2010). Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the most common cause of acquired brain injury. TBI refers to an external injury to the brain and can be classified into two subgroups: closed head injury and penetrating head injury. A closed head injury occurs when an object suddenly and forcefully comes into contact with the