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Biomedical subjects

R Balliet

Publications and source records attributed to R Balliet.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1994

Simultaneous quantitation of facial movements: the maximal static response assay of facial nerve function.

An assay is described that enables the simultaneous measurement of bilateral facial movements within zones relevant to facial nerve function. The assay allows the accurate quantitation of movement of the eyebrows, radix, lower eyelids, philtrum, mentum, and oral commissures relative to these points on the resting face. Global or region-specific facial nerve dysfunction is detectable using this assay, as shown in examples of patients having single branch facial nerve palsy and bilateral facial palsy (Möbius syndrome variant). Because facial movement is tested by region, with the remainder of the face relaxed, synkinesis can be detected when present. The assay has potential to be used as an adjunct to the presently used ordinal scales of facial nerve function, by allowing actual quantitation of region-specific facial movement. This feature may prove helpful in vector planning for reanimation procedures and may allow the tracking of functional responses after such procedures, thereby providing a measurement of their efficacy.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Retraining of functional gait through the reduction of upper extremity weight-bearing in chronic cerebellar ataxia.

Patients with chronic ataxia resulting from traumatic central nervous system (CNS) damage frequently attain a gait pattern dependent upon upper extremity weight-bearing (UEWB). Traditional attempts to train these patients may perpetuate UEWB dependency, by not allowing optimal facilitation of balance and associated movement control required for independent ambulation. In the present study an ambulation retraining approach designed to facilitate coordination and balance while minimizing UEWB was used. This approach can allow the patient to train outside of the clinic; only about 5% of the actual therapy hours involved a therapist.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Upper extremity sensory feedback therapy in chronic cerebrovascular accident patients with impaired expressive aphasia and auditory comprehension.

Electromyographic (EMG) sensory feedback therapy (SFT) was used in the neuromuscular retraining of the nonfunctional upper extremity in five chronic left cerebrovascular accident (CVA) patients with impaired expressive and auditory comprehension. Speech diagnoses included global, moderate-to-severe Broca, and Wernicke aphasias. These patients had experienced increased despondency associated with previous therapy failures and often had indicated that they wished to have their involved extremity amputated, so that it would no longer be in the way. In this study, specific behavioral training strategies to increase patient involvement were used, including: general relaxation, modified SFT instruction, and home exercises, which were supported by family and/or friends. After an average of 50 therapy sessions, all patients were successfully retrained to use their right upper extremity at the gross-assist level. This resulted in feelings of increased self-esteem to the extent that amputation was no longer requested. It is concluded that EMG SFT can be beneficial in the neuromuscular reeducation of paretic upper extremity muscles of CVA patients with expressive aphasia and (impaired) auditory comprehension.

Aphasia, Broca↗
PubMed1985

Visual field rehabilitation in the cortically blind?

Investigators have recently reported that specific practice facilitates the restitution of visual fields in partially blinded humans with lesions to the striate cortex. In order to further evaluate this work, attempts were made to retrain twelve homonymous hemianopic or quadrantanopic patients with similar methods, but under conditions in which possible contaminating experimental variables were controlled, including: reliance on gross subjective impressions, large visual stimuli response variability, changes in detection strategies with practice and compensatory eccentric fixation. The results indicate that visual field increases are not trainable. It is concluded that previous studies should be regarded with caution and the restitution of visual fields after damage to the striate cortex in humans is probably not possible with existing methods.

Aged↗
PubMed1983

The breakdown and rehabilitation of visuospatial dysfunction in brain-injured patients.

Neuropsychological studies on visuospatial dysfunction are reviewed and a model is described that characterizes hemispheric specialization of this function. It is proposed that the right hemisphere is dominant for configural processing and the left hemisphere for detail processing. Past efforts of visuospatial rehabilitation, which have focused primarily on one type of impairment, "left-neglect", are discussed. Future directions for rehabilitation of visuospatial dysfunction associated with both right- and left-hemisphere pathology are suggested.

Brain Diseases↗
PubMed1982

Facial paralysis rehabilitation: retraining selective muscle control.

Traumatic facial paralysis can be improved with surgical techniques but alone will not restore full function. EMG sensory (bio) feedback can, however, facilitate rehabilitation. Four cases are described using a combined treatment technique of EMG, behavioural modification and specific action exercises. Retraining of eyelid control was also accomplished. Standardized evaluation methods are described. All four patients showed improvement, despite the failure of traditional retraining methods.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

The training of visual acuity in myopia.

Seventeen myopes were trained with a computerized optometer to increase their far-point visual acuity from up to 20/800 to 20/25 for limited durations under conditions where "squinting" and pupil size were controlled. No associated changes in refraction were found. The results are best explained by the formation of an artificial contact lens resulting from tear-film changes. Measuring contrast sensitivity across a range of spatial frequencies is suggested to investigate the possibility that a learned perceptual process may also be involved.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Training of voluntary torsion.

By means of a visual feedback technique, human subjects were trained to make large conjugate cyclorotary eye movements at will. The range of movement increased with training at a rate of approximately 0.8 degrees per hour of practice, reaching 30 degrees at the end of training. Photographs recorded the ability to make voluntary cyclofixations at any amplitude within the subject's range. Cyclotorsional pursuit was also trained, with ability increasing with greater amounts of fisual feedback. In addition, torsional saccadic tracking was trained, showing a magnitude vs. peak velocity relationship similar to that seen for normal saccades. Control experiments indicate that all of these movements were voluntary, with no significant visual induction. With extended practice, large torsional movements could be made without any visual stimulation. The emergence of voluntary torsion through training demonstrates that the oculomotor system has more plasticity than has generally been assumed, reopening the issue as to whether other movements could also be trained to alleviate the symptoms of strabismus.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Color vision: blue deficiencies in children?

Recent publicized reports based on the use of the Farnsworth Panel D-15 test suggest that a large percentage of young children have a deficiency of blue vision (tritan type). In our study, 413 school children (ages 3 to 10) were tested with both the Farnsworth Panel D-15 test, as well as the A.O. H-R-R plates. None of the children failed either test for blue-yellow vision when traditional scoring instructions were observed. As in previous reports, we find that the children make a number of minor errors which adults rarely make. These errors show marked age-related patterns, being more frequent in younger children. However, further analysis of these errors revealed that the relative frequency with which particular error types were made on the D-15 test was significantly correlated with the existing perceived color difference data for the visually normal adult population. In addition, retesting significantly reduced all error types and reversing the test sequence demonstrated that most of the minor errors were made in the last half of the test regardless of the color vision task. The overall increase in the number of minor test errors seen with young children seems unrelated to color defects. The modified scoring methods in conjunction with the characteristics of the Panel D-15 test design account for the high percentage of errors classified as errors of blue vision.

Age Factors↗