Biomedical subjects

A H Zencius

Publications and source records attributed to A H Zencius.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1999

Is the social network analysis necessary in the rehabilitation of individuals with head injury?

A social network is a support system in which one can obtain assistance for simple daily needs and in emergency situations. A diminished social network can result in failure to integrate into normalized environments. The results of this investigation clearly showed that social networks among a group of 70 people who were traumatically brain injured had significantly fewer members than a control group of non-injured respondents. Additionally, the make-up of social networks was different. Specifically, respondents who were traumatically brain injured had social networks consisting mainly of family and staff members of the rehabilitation facility, while non-injured respondents had mostly friends or acquaintances, coworkers, and family members, in that order.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

Improving orientation in head injured adults by repeated practice, multi-sensory input and peer participation.

The efficacy of using antecedent control procedures (practice, multi-sensory input and peer participation) in facilitating orientation to person, place and time with two survivors of traumatic brain injuries were tested in two studies. In the first investigation, a 23-year-old male was treated by presenting the orientation questions orally while being shown questions on written flashcards. Results suggest that correct responses to orientation questions only occurred when flashcards were coupled with oral questioning. The participant responded correctly to nearly 100% of all orientation questions within 2 weeks of initiating flashcards. In the second study, a 19-year-old male was asked to respond in writing to 20 orientation questions in a small group. The group had a leader and 4 TBI patients. Following this, group members who correctly answered the orientation questions, took turns reading orientation questions and providing the correct responses.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

A personalized system of instruction for teaching checking account skills to adults with mild disabilities.

This study evaluated the efficacy of a personalized system of instruction to teach checking account skills to persons with mild disabilities. Using a self-paced manual, 8 participants in two groups were taught to write checks, complete deposit slips, and reconcile monthly bank statements. Four participants were assessed for generalization from the classroom to community sites and demonstrated nearly perfect performance. A multiple probe design showed that acquisition occurred sequentially for each skill only after training using the self-paced manual. Follow-up sessions demonstrated that participants maintained the checking account skills. The results provide evidence of the effectiveness and adaptability of a personalized system of instruction for teaching complex monetary skills to persons with mild disabilities.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Antecedent control in the treatment of brain-injured clients.

Three brain-injured clients failed to respond significantly to consequence management programmes designed to increase attendance, use of a cane, and to reduce unauthorized breaks. When antecedent stimulus control procedures were applied, attendance and use of a cane increased and unauthorized breaks decreased. The study shows that antecedent control may be the treatment of choice when treating brain-injured clients with memory loss.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Improving executive function disorders in brain-injured clients.

In 1983, Lezak described executive functioning as the ability to engage in independent, purposeful, self-directive and self-serving behaviour. Self initiation, problem-solving and self-monitoring or regulation of behaviour are important components of executive functioning. This paper presents the results of efforts to improve executive functioning in three areas: problem solving, self-initiation and self-regulation.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Assessing and treating non-compliance in brain-injured clients.

Assessment of non-compliance has been discussed. This included exploration of reinforcement contingencies, age appropriateness, cultural background and social background. Several perspectives on this have been addressed. Memory deficits are also critical when assessing non-compliance. Specifically, when the TBI person has severe memory deficits. Consequence management and antecedent control techniques have shown to be highly effective in promoting participation. Additionally, non-compliance should not necessarily be viewed as non-desirable, in fact, the client may be communicating preferred and non-preferred interests. It is important to recognize individual talents, interests and preferences. This is a significant point when you consider that TBI survivors had pre-injury lifestyles, i.e. full-time employment, a working social network, and preferred interests and activities.

Amnesia↗