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  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
191

Exploring the Information Needs of Youth Living with Cerebral Palsy and their Parents During the Transition to Adulthood

Freeman, Matt 12 August 2019 (has links)
Background The transition to adulthood is a time of information needs for youth living with cerebral palsy (CP) and their parents. Access to information and being provided information may assist youth and their parents in making informed decisions. Youth with CP and parents of youth living with CP have reported lack of information as a challenge during the transition to adulthood. Little is known about the information needs of youth with CP and parents during the transition to adulthood from their perspective. Objectives and Methods The objective of this thesis was to explore the information needs of youth with CP and parents during the transition to adulthood. A scoping review was conducted seeking to understand what was known in the transition literature about the information needs of youth with CP and parents (Chapter 2). To clarify the methodological framework of this dissertation the application of interpretive description (ID) to a case study example within childhood disability research was explored (Chapter 3). The information needs during transition in a sample of young adults living with CP were explored using ID (Chapter 4). The information needs of parents of youth with CP currently in the transition to adulthood were then explored, using ID because it was learned in the study of adults living with CP that their parents initiated information seeking or had information needs of their own during transition (Chapter 5). Findings Primary findings from this dissertation include the recognition, from both the scoping review and the two studies, that both youth living with CP and parents of youth living with CP in the transition to adulthood have information needs during the transition to adulthood. More specifically, both youth and parents are seeking to receive information related to goals in adult life, such as employment, postsecondary education, leaving the family home and relationships. Youth prefer to receive their information from peers living with CP. Parents prefer to receive information from peers, but some also desire a direct connection with service providers. Other parents recommend adults living with CP as an information source. Youth and parents agree that information should be delivered in individualized tailored ways. In addition to rehabilitation professionals, youth and parents highlighted the need for information from educators and other community providers. Implications for Clinical Practice Rehabilitation professionals have an important role in helping to provide tailored information. Rehabilitation professionals can initiate conversations about the transition to adulthood around the beginning of high school that focus on improving the self-management of youth of their own transitional journey. In addition to having conversations with clients, rehabilitation professionals should also connect clients with community supports. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
192

Using Accelerometers to Quantify Infant General Movements as a Tool for Assessing Motility to Assist in Making a Diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy

Conover, Mark Stuart 02 October 2003 (has links)
Quantitative approaches to directly measure infant movement have not utilized miniature electronics technology, nor been used effectively in evaluating neurological dysfunctions' affect on movement. This thesis presents a new quantitative technique for measuring infant general movements (GMs) using micro-electromechanical accelerometers, while discussing future improvements for this technology and possible benefits to present methods of diagnosing cerebral palsy. For decades, GMs have interested neurologists because characteristics can indicate neurological dysfunctions. Motions over the entire body that show fluency, variation, and complexity characterize normal GMs. Analyzing these movements can accurately predict neurological dysfunction - cerebral palsy, in particular. This research describes a technique to make consistent, quantitative measurements of GMs using accelerometers on infant limbs. Signal processing techniques can find patterns, later determined characteristic of neurological dysfunctions. Such analyses complement the current technique of video footage review. Additionally, data could be reanalyzed using updated signal processing algorithms. An accurate collection of data allows physicians to quickly review an infant's entire history of motion studies. Physical information can be inferred from the data. Correlation techniques have compared motions from different limbs to examine coordination. Evidence suggests this may help indicate dysfunction. High-speed data acquisition enables the study of high-frequency motions, possibly undetectable with the human eye. This research has successfully recorded acceleration and video during GMs from four limbs on multiple infants. Signal processing techniques have been applied to create various graphical representations. The direct measurement of movement makes this work unique, enabling a graphical analysis tool for physicians based on physical performance. / Master of Science
193

Feasibility of Assessing an Infant's General Movements Using Wireless Accelerometers for Early Diagnosis of Neurological Dysfunction

Dillon, Travis Eric 27 July 2005 (has links)
General movements (GMs) are the spontaneous gross motor movements involving the whole body. GMs progressively develop as an infant ages. Several recent research studies involving the qualitative assessment of the GMs in infants have validated that GMs, or the lack of, are an accurate way diagnosing a neurological dysfunction in the early stages of infancy. One study has shown that definitely abnormal movements occurring between 10-20 weeks post-term accurately predicted cerebral palsy in infants with an accuracy of 85 to 98 percent [1]. The qualitative method of assessing an infant's GMs is an accurate way of predicting a neurological dysfunction, however, requires the review of hours of video footage by a trained physician. This process is not only time consuming and costly but is subjective in the sense that the results cannot be easily transferred among different institutions. It is also difficult to conduct longitudinal studies without first reviewing the entire history of video footage of the infant's GMs. Improvements can be made to the qualitative GMs assessment method by utilizing recent advances in technology that "can make data collection and analysis more efficient, without compromising competency" [2]. In particular, preliminary research has shown that data collected from"wired" micro-electrical-mechanical systems (MEMS) accelerometers attached to the wrist and ankles of an infant is a feasible way of collecting and characterizing the motion patterns that infants display during GMs [3]. The work presented in this thesis is directed towards improving the past research that used "wired" accelerometers to acquire acceleration signals from the limbs of infants. This thesis describes the process of transitioning the "wired" accelerometers to the wireless level, designing a user-friendly interface to graphically interpret the acceleration data, and assessing the designed system through clinical trials on normal and at-risk infants using the design system. / Master of Science
194

Stratifying the risk of facial nerve palsy after benign parotid surgery

Sethi, N., Tay, P.H., Scally, Andy J., Sood, S. 20 May 2013 (has links)
No / Post-operative facial palsy is the most important potential complication of parotid surgery for benign lesions. The published prevalence of facial weakness is up to 57 per cent for temporary weakness and up to 7 per cent for permanent weakness. We aimed to identify potential risk factors for post-operative facial palsy. Materials and methods: One hundred and fifty patients who had undergone parotid surgery for benign disease were retrospectively reviewed. Tumour factors (size, location and histopathology), patient factors (age and sex) and operative factors (operation, surgeon grade, surgeon specialty and use of intra-operative facial nerve monitoring) were all analysed for significant associations with post-operative facial palsy. Results and analysis: The overall incidence of facial palsy was 26.7 per cent for temporary weakness and 2.6 per cent for permanent weakness. The associations between facial palsy and all the above factors were analysed using Pearson's chi-square test and found to be non-significant. Conclusion: These outcomes compare favourably with the literature. No significant risk factors were identified, suggesting that atraumatic, meticulous surgical technique is still the most important factor affecting post-operative facial palsy.
195

The Effect of Transcranial Stimulation on the Mechanical Efficiency of Persons with Cerebral Palsy

Logan, Michael P. (Michael Paul) 05 1900 (has links)
The problem of this study concerns the reduction of spasticity in physically handicapped persons with CP. The hypotheses tested were: that there would be no significant difference between the mechanical efficiency (ME) of persons with spastic CP following application of the TENS Unit and following application of the placebo unit; that there would be no significant difference between the ME of males with spastic CP, following application of the TENS Unit or the placebo unit, and the ME of females with spastic CP, following application of the TENS Unit or the placebo unit; and that there would be no significant interaction between the treatment factor and the gender category.
196

Eletromiografia de superfície e avaliação clínica da mímica facial em pacientes com paralisia facial periférica idiopática / Surface electromyography and clinical assessment of the patients with peripheral facial palsy

Wenceslau, Lais Garcia Capel 08 May 2015 (has links)
INTRODUÇÃO: A paralisia facial periférica idiopática apresenta uma variabilidade clínica de sinais e sintomas que dificultam a realização de uma avaliação objetiva e precisa, com influência no estabelecimento de prognóstico. A eletromiografia de superfície é um exame não invasivo e indolor que permite o estudo da atividade elétrica muscular. Visando compreender quais os efeitos da paralisia facial na atividade elétrica muscular durante o tempo de instalação da doença, o objetivo deste estudo foi utilizar a eletromiografia de superfície para captar a resposta elétrica de músculos da face durante a avaliação clínica do sorriso e correlacionar as respostas musculares com o tempo de instalação da paralisia facial. MÉTODOS: Participaram 140 adultos divididos em três grupos: Grupo I - 35 participantes com paralisia facial periférica com instalação de até 3 meses; Grupo II - 35 participantes com paralisia facial periférica com instalação entre 3 a 6 meses; Grupo III - 70 controles saudáveis. Todos foram submetidos à avaliação que consistiu na aplicação de uma escala clínica para avaliação da mímica facial e da realização do exame de eletromiografia de superfície em região de músculos zigomático e risório. RESULTADOS: Há evidências que os grupos com paralisia facial, independentemente do tempo de início da doença, se diferenciaram significativamente do grupo de indivíduos saudáveis quanto a atividade muscular captada durante o repouso e no sorriso voluntário para ambas as regiões musculares testadas. Os grupos com paralisia facial não se diferenciaram significativamente quando considerada a ativação muscular para nenhuma das avaliações realizadas. O grupo com maior tempo de paralisia facial, apresentou ativação muscular mais assimétrica durante o sorriso voluntário se comparado aos demais grupos. A assimetria muscular foi mais evidente se considerado o funcionamento do músculo risório. CONCLUSÃO: A compatibilização da análise dos dados indica que a avaliação muscular da face por meio da eletromiografia de superfície é reprodutível e é capaz de diferenciar indivíduos com e sem comprometimento muscular / INTRODUCTION: Idiopathic facial palsy presents a clinical variability of signs and symptoms, wich turns difficult to perform an objective and accurate assessment, and influences the prognosis. Surface electromyography is a noninvasive and painless test that allows the study of muscle electrical activity. The purpose of this study was to assess, through surface electromyography, the activity of the risorius and zygomaticus muscles, during the production of voluntary smiles and to compare these data between two groups of individuals with different onset times of peripheral facial palsy. METHODS: 140 adults divided into three groups: Group 1 - 35 individuals with Peripheral Facial Palsy onset time between 0 and 3 months; Group 2 - 35 individuals with Peripheral Facial Palsy onset time between 3 and 6 months; Control Group - 70 healthy controls. All of the participants were submitted to the following assessments: clinical protocol for the assessment of facial mimic and surface electromyography of the risorius and zygomaticus muscles. RESULTS: the results suggest that the groups of individuals with Peripheral Facial Palsy differed from the control group considering muscle activity during rest and during the production of voluntary smiles, regardless of the onset time of the disease. The groups with Peripheral Facial Palsy did not differ between themselves in any of the tested situations. The group with Peripheral Facial Palsy with longer onset time presented greater muscle activation asymmetry during the production of the voluntary smiles when compared to the other two groups. Muscle asymmetry was more evident when considering the results for the risorius muscle. CONCLUSION: A compatibilização da análise dos dados indica que a avaliação muscular da face por meio da eletromiografia de superfície é reprodutível e é capaz de diferenciar indivíduos com e sem comprometimento muscular
197

Eletromiografia de superfície e avaliação clínica da mímica facial em pacientes com paralisia facial periférica idiopática / Surface electromyography and clinical assessment of the patients with peripheral facial palsy

Lais Garcia Capel Wenceslau 08 May 2015 (has links)
INTRODUÇÃO: A paralisia facial periférica idiopática apresenta uma variabilidade clínica de sinais e sintomas que dificultam a realização de uma avaliação objetiva e precisa, com influência no estabelecimento de prognóstico. A eletromiografia de superfície é um exame não invasivo e indolor que permite o estudo da atividade elétrica muscular. Visando compreender quais os efeitos da paralisia facial na atividade elétrica muscular durante o tempo de instalação da doença, o objetivo deste estudo foi utilizar a eletromiografia de superfície para captar a resposta elétrica de músculos da face durante a avaliação clínica do sorriso e correlacionar as respostas musculares com o tempo de instalação da paralisia facial. MÉTODOS: Participaram 140 adultos divididos em três grupos: Grupo I - 35 participantes com paralisia facial periférica com instalação de até 3 meses; Grupo II - 35 participantes com paralisia facial periférica com instalação entre 3 a 6 meses; Grupo III - 70 controles saudáveis. Todos foram submetidos à avaliação que consistiu na aplicação de uma escala clínica para avaliação da mímica facial e da realização do exame de eletromiografia de superfície em região de músculos zigomático e risório. RESULTADOS: Há evidências que os grupos com paralisia facial, independentemente do tempo de início da doença, se diferenciaram significativamente do grupo de indivíduos saudáveis quanto a atividade muscular captada durante o repouso e no sorriso voluntário para ambas as regiões musculares testadas. Os grupos com paralisia facial não se diferenciaram significativamente quando considerada a ativação muscular para nenhuma das avaliações realizadas. O grupo com maior tempo de paralisia facial, apresentou ativação muscular mais assimétrica durante o sorriso voluntário se comparado aos demais grupos. A assimetria muscular foi mais evidente se considerado o funcionamento do músculo risório. CONCLUSÃO: A compatibilização da análise dos dados indica que a avaliação muscular da face por meio da eletromiografia de superfície é reprodutível e é capaz de diferenciar indivíduos com e sem comprometimento muscular / INTRODUCTION: Idiopathic facial palsy presents a clinical variability of signs and symptoms, wich turns difficult to perform an objective and accurate assessment, and influences the prognosis. Surface electromyography is a noninvasive and painless test that allows the study of muscle electrical activity. The purpose of this study was to assess, through surface electromyography, the activity of the risorius and zygomaticus muscles, during the production of voluntary smiles and to compare these data between two groups of individuals with different onset times of peripheral facial palsy. METHODS: 140 adults divided into three groups: Group 1 - 35 individuals with Peripheral Facial Palsy onset time between 0 and 3 months; Group 2 - 35 individuals with Peripheral Facial Palsy onset time between 3 and 6 months; Control Group - 70 healthy controls. All of the participants were submitted to the following assessments: clinical protocol for the assessment of facial mimic and surface electromyography of the risorius and zygomaticus muscles. RESULTS: the results suggest that the groups of individuals with Peripheral Facial Palsy differed from the control group considering muscle activity during rest and during the production of voluntary smiles, regardless of the onset time of the disease. The groups with Peripheral Facial Palsy did not differ between themselves in any of the tested situations. The group with Peripheral Facial Palsy with longer onset time presented greater muscle activation asymmetry during the production of the voluntary smiles when compared to the other two groups. Muscle asymmetry was more evident when considering the results for the risorius muscle. CONCLUSION: A compatibilização da análise dos dados indica que a avaliação muscular da face por meio da eletromiografia de superfície é reprodutível e é capaz de diferenciar indivíduos com e sem comprometimento muscular
198

Aspectos motores da Paralisia Cerebral Espástica diparética = o Nintendo WII 'MARCA REGISTRADA' como atividade motora complementar = Motor aspects of Spastic Cerebral Palsy : the Nintendo WII 'TRADEMARK' as a supplementary motor activity / Motor aspects of Spastic Cerebral Palsy : the Nintendo WII 'TRADEMARK' as a supplementary motor activity

Costa, Poliana Chiemi Yamagute, 1982- 22 August 2018 (has links)
Orientador: Edison Duarte / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Educação Física / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-22T12:52:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Costa_PolianaChiemiYamagute_M.pdf: 15146484 bytes, checksum: ca36299d74b388fb3f24ed7129e0b522 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / Resumo: As crianças e adolescentes com Paralisia Cerebral (PC) Espástica diparética apresentam comprometimentos músculo-esqueléticos e neuromusculares que restringem o controle normal da postura e as estratégias de equilíbrio estático e dinâmico, interferindo no desempenho de atividades funcionais. As inovações tecnológicas dos últimos anos têm agregado intervenções sensório-motoras através de sistemas de realidade virtual para melhora da estabilidade postural e do controle motor seletivo. Com estes objetivos, o vídeo game Nintendo Wii® que utiliza um sistema de realidade virtual é amplamente utilizado no Brasil, sendo conhecido como Wiireabilitação. Poucos estudos comprovam seus benefícios em crianças com desordens neuromotoras, portanto, este estudo teve como objetivo analisar as mudanças que o uso do sistema de realidade virtual Nintendo Wii® como terapia complementar pode provocar na função motora grossa, alinhamento postural, equilíbrio estático e dinâmico de crianças e adolescentes com PC espástica diparética com marcha independente. Métodos: 12 sujeitos com PC diparética foram alocados aleatoriamente em: grupo controle submetido à fisioterapia convencional (GC, n=6) e grupo experimental submetido à fisioterapia associada à Wiireabilitação (GE, n=6), ambos para treino de alinhamento postural, equilíbrio e função motora grossa. Equilíbrio estático e dinâmico foram avaliados através do sistema de Baropodometria Eletrônica, o alinhamento postural pelo Software para Avaliação Postural (SAPO), e a função motora grossa através das dimensões D e E da escala Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-88). Estas variáveis foram mensuradas nos dois grupos antes e após 20 sessões de intervenção, sendo comparadas entre grupo e entre grupo e momento com o testes estatístico ANOVA one-way para medidas repetidas. Para as comparações pairwise foi utilizada análise gráfica (boxplot e gráfico de interação). Resultados: No teste de estabilometria da baropodometria eletrônica, houve diferença estatisticamente significativa na comparação entre grupo para oscilação médio-lateral e ânteroposterior com olhos fechados (cm) e oscilação do centro de pressão na superfície (cm2) com olhos fechados (p=0.050; p=0.005; p=0.009 respectivamente), e diferença na comparação entre grupo e momento para as mesmas variáveis anteriores (p=0.042; p=0.012 e p=0.006 respectivamente). Neste teste observa-se melhora de todas as variáveis no grupo experimental, e piora de todas no grupo controle. Não foram encontradas diferenças significativas que indicassem melhora para as variáveis da função motora grossa, do alinhamento postural, da baropodometria estática e dinâmica. Conclusão: Os resultados deste estudo sugerem que 20 sessões de fisioterapia convencional associadas à Wiireabilitação produzem melhora no controle do equilíbrio estático, porém não foram suficientes para produzir mudanças significativas na função motora grossa, no alinhamento postural e na distribuição da carga corporal nos pés / Abstract: Children and adolescents with Spastic Diplegia Cerebral Palsy (CP) present musculo-skeletal impairments that restrict normal postural control and static and dynamic balance strategies, interfering in functional performance activities. Recent technological innovations have added sensory-motor interventions through the use of virtual reality systems to improve postural stability and selective motor control. The video game Nintendo Wii® uses a virtual reality system, approaching the objectives before it is widely used in Brazil and is known as Wiihabilitation. Few researches have proved its benefits in children with motor disorders, thus this research aimed to analyze the changes that using the Nintendo Wii® virtual game system, as a complementary therapy, can cause in gross motor function, postural alignment, static and dynamic balance of children and adolescents with spastic diplegia and independent gait. 12 spastic diplegia subjects were randomly allocated into: control group submitted to conventional physiotherapy (CG, n=6) and experimental group submitted to physiotherapy associated with Wiihabilitation (EG, n=6), both for postural alignment, balance and gross motor function training. Static and dynamic balance were assessed through Electronic Baropodometry, postural alignment was assessed by the Software for Posture Assessment (SAPO), and gross motor function through D and E dimensions of the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-88). These variables were measured in both groups before and after 20 sessions of intervention, and were compared between groups and between group and moment with ANOVA one-way for repeated measures. For pairwise comparisons, a graphic analysis was used (boxplot and interaction graph). Results: In the stabilometry test of the electronic baropodometry, there were statistically significant differences between groups for medio-lateral and antero-posterior oscillations with eyes closed (cm) and center of pressure surface oscillation (cm2) with eyes closed (p=0.050; p=0.005; p=0.009 respectively), and in the comparison between group and moment for the same variables (p=0.042; p=0.012 e p=0.006 respectively). In this test, there was improvement in all variables of experimental group, and decline in all variables of control group There were no significant differences that would indicate improvement on gross motor function, postural alignment, static and dynamic baropodometry variables. The results of the present research suggest that 20 sessions of conventional physiotherapy associated with Wiihabilitation improves control of static balance, however were not sufficient to produce significant changes on gross motor function, postural alignment and foot loading distribution / Mestrado / Atividade Fisica Adaptada / Mestra em Educação Física
199

The Effect of Hinged Ankle Foot Orthoses on the Oxygen Cost of Walking in Children with Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy / AFO and the Oxygen Cost of Walking in Cerebral Palsy

Maltais, Désirée 12 1900 (has links)
Children with cerebral palsy (CP) have a higher than normal O2 uptake (VO2) during walking. While various interventions are used to improve locomotion, little is known about their effect on the metabolic and cardiopulmonary cost of walking. We therefore assessed the effects of one popular intervention, hinged ankle foot orthoses (AFO), on cardiopulmonary and metabolic variables during 2 min of steady state treadmill walking at three speeds: 3 kph, comfortable walking speed (CWS) and fast walking speed (FWS). We also assessed the effect of these braces on comfortable and maximum ground walking speed and on gross motor abilities using the Gross Motor Function Measure. Ten children with spastic diplegic CP (9.01 years ± 2.10) who habitually used hinged AFO participated. Not all children could walk at all speeds on the treadmill however, and some cardiopulmonary and metabolic data on three children were missing due to equipment failure. We performed an ANOVA on data for children who walked at 3 kph and CWS (n=8 for heart rate (HR); n=9 for pulmonary ventilation and metabolic variables) and a t-test on data at FWS (n=9 for HR, n=8 for pulmonary ventilation and metabolic variables). When children wore AFO, absolute VO2 was reduced by 4.6% at 3 kph and by 4.1% at FWS, and absolute VO2 per metre walked by 4.6% and 4.4% at the same speeds, respectively. Adjusting VO2 for body mass, or for resting VO2 or calculating energy expenditure in kJ, revealed the same pattern. Pulmonary ventilation was lower with AFO on by 7.17%, but only at 3 kph. AFO did not affect gross motor abilities. Nor did it affect HR, or the respiratory exchange ratio at any speed, nor any physiologic variable at CWS. We suggest the lower O2 cost may reflect an increase in stability and a corresponding decrease in coactivation of lower limb antagonistic muscles. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)
200

The communicative participation of adults with cerebral palsy

Levin, Karen Susan 12 1900 (has links)
Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Conducted within a critical disability studies framework, this study explored the experience of communicative participation by adults with cerebral palsy who live with severe communication impairments. The concept of the participation of communicatively disabled people is relatively new, and the theoretical understanding of communicative participation is underdeveloped although participation is increasingly recognised as a central goal in rehabilitation. In addition, there is a paucity of information with reference to the trajectory of lifelong communication disability. Little is known about the communicative participation of adults with cerebral palsy in South Africa. Nine adults with cerebral palsy, who lived with significant communication impairments, participated in the study. They were between 32 and 49 years of age, and had lived South Africa all their lives. They were observed in social interactions in their daily lives on multiple occasions and took part in serial interviews over a six-month period. Using a pragmatist grounded theory approach, the data were analysed from an interpretive basis. Four main categories were constructed. The first category was “being misrecognised as a communicator”, which showed that the participants were not acknowledged as having equal moral participatory status in communicative exchanges. The second category, “contexts for communicating”, indicated that the participants lived with significant communication impairments which resulted in their experiencing limitations in a broad spectrum of life’s activities. The third category, “an embedded communicative self”, illuminated that the participants saw their communicative disabilities as embedded within a broader picture of being disabled, and that their communication impairments had a marked effect on their identity development. Through an analysis of lifetime contributions to communicative participation, the final category, “dynamic participation” revealed how communicative participation is a fluid, ever-changing process. Extending Ikäheimo’s (2010) model of social participation and recognition, a “dynamic recognition-theoretical model of communicative participation” is presented. Communicative participation is defined as a dynamic social process. It is undergirded by the moral recognition of the interactants as communicative partners, and is influenced by time as the dimension through which all communication takes place. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die studie, vanuit `n kritiese benadering, het serebraalgestermde volwassenes (wie se vermoë om te kommunikeer ernstig aangetas is) se ervaringe met betrekking tot hul deelname aan kommunikasie of situasies waarin daar gekommunikeer word, verken. Die konsep wat fokus op die deelname aan kommunikasie deur diegene wie se vermoë om te kommunikeer ernstig aangetas is, is `n relatief nuwe begrip. Die teoretiese grondslag van die konsep is onderontwikkeld, maar die konsep word toenemend gereken as een van die belangrikste doelwitte van die rehabilitasie-proses. Daar is ook`n gebrek aan inligting wat handel oor die verloop van mense se lewenslange ervaringe wie se vermoë om te kommunikeer ernstig aangetas is. Daar bestaan beperkte kennis oor volwassenes met serebraalgestremdheid in Suid-Afrika se deelname aan kommunikasie. Nege volwassenes met serebraalgestremdheid, wie se vermoë om te kommunikeer ernstig aangestas is, het deelgeneem aan die studie. Die deelnemers se ouderdomme (gedurende die tydperk waarin data-insameling plaasgevind het) het gewissel van 32 tot 49 jaar, en die deelnemers het nog altyd in Suid-Afrika gewoon. Die deelnemers se kommunikasie-gedrag gedurende verskeie sosiale situasies is waargeneem. Die deelnemers het ook oor `n periode van ses maande aan `n reeks onderhoude deelgeneem. Pragmatiese, gegronde teoretiese benadering (ook verwys na as ‘grounded theory’) is gebruik om die data te analiseer. Die bevindinge dui op vier hoof temas. Die eerste tema verwys na bevindinge wat handel oor ‘om misken te word as as iemand wat deelneem aan kommunikasie’. Die bevindinge dui daarop dat deelnemers van mening is dat hulle nie as `n gelykke beskou word gedurende situasies waarin daar gekommunikeer word. Die tweede tema verwys na ‘die konteks van kommunikasie’, en dui daarop dat weens die feit dat deelnemers se vermoë om te kommunikeer ernstig aangestas is, word hulle ook op `n verskeidenheid van lewensaktiwiteite ingeperk. Die derde tema verwys na die volgende: ‘die aantasting van die vermoë om te kommunikeer gesetel in die self’. Die tema dui daarop dat deelnemers die aantasting van hulle vermoë om te kommunikeer, sien as deel van die geheelbeeld van gestremdheid en dat die vermoë om te kommunikeer `n betekenisvolle impak op hul identiteitsontwikkel gehad het. Die lewenslange ervaringe van die deelnemers het aanleiding gegee tot die vierde en laaste tema, naamlik ‘dinamiese deelname’. Dit dui daarop dat die deelname aan kommunikasie nie staties is nie, maar voortdurend verander. Die studie bevindinge suggereer dat Ikäheimo’s (2010) se model van sosiale deelname en erkenning, uitgebrei kan word tot `n dinamiese teoretiese model wat die deelname aan kommunikasie erken. Die deelname aan kommunikasie word gedefiniëer as `n dinamiese sosiale proses. Die grondslag van die model behels die erkenning van diegene wat kommunikeer as deelgenote wat beïnvloed word deur tyd as die dimensie waardeur alle kommunikasie plaasvind.

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