adaptive eating utensils
large handle utensils |
enlarge the grasping surface so a person with a limited grasp or hand strength can hold the utensils with more ease |
weighted utensil |
help increase the proprioceptive input that the utensil gives to the user, helping to reduce tremors and improve control during eating |
angled utensils |
limited upper extremity range of motion use angled eating utensils to compensate for the lack of range; angled utensils are especially useful for people with limited supination |
swivel utensils |
spoon swivels to keep the utensil level to prevent spills due to hand tremors; helpful for people with parkinsons, hand tremors and weakness, poor coordination |
lightweight utensils |
are useful for people who have upper body weakness and functional range of motion. |
coated spoons |
Coated spoons are used with people, especially children, who have oral hypersensitivity. |
rocker knife |
used by people with hand weakness, arthritic deformities, and people who only have the use of one hand. |
knife/fork combo |
used by people who have the use of one hand only. The rocker knife portion is used to cut food and the tines to poke food and bring it to the mouth. |
roller knife |
used by people who have hand and upper extremity weakness, fine motor coordination deficits, or the use of one hand only. |
universal cuff |
used by people with limited hand mobility and function, including people with SCI, TBI, CVA, MS, and other diagnoses. The cuff holds the utensil in place so the user does not have to have a functional grasp to control the utensil. |
foam tubing |
used to build up the handles of regular eating utensils |
nosy cup |
Nosy cups are used by people who cannot tilt their heads back to drink. The cut out in the cup makes room for the nose, eliminating the need to tip the head. |
dysphagia cup |
the dysphagia cup allows a person to drink without tilting the head back. Dysphagia cups were designed specifically for people with swallowing problems to reduce the risk of choking and aspiration. |
long spout cup |
design of the cup helps to prevent liquids from dribbling out of the mouth. |
suction plate and bowl |
Suction plates and bowls are used by people who have difficulty holding dishes while eating, |
sectioned dish |
Sectioned dishes prevent food from sliding on the plate and mixing together. They are used by people who have difficulty loading food utensils due to limited mobility, people with visual impairments, and people with oral sensory sensitivity. |
plate guard |
prevents food from sliding off a plate when it is scooped or cut. Plate guards are used by people with limited upper extremity mobility or people with visual impairments. |
nonslip placemat |
prevents dishes from sliding on the table during meals. People with poor upper extremity coordination or visual impairments use non-slip placemats. |
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AE
used to compensate for a physical limitation, to promote safety and to prevent joint injury |
dressing stick |
used to minimize the need to bend over the hips and don/doff LBD |
grab bars |
installed in walls for toilet and shower/tub transfers |
toothbrush |
add thick gripers to make it easier to hold onto the toothbrush |
non slip mat |
placed on the bottom of silverware to prevent slippage |
leg lifter |
can be used for transfers and bed mobility to easily pull the leg over the edge of the bed or tub |
long handled sponge |
useful for individuals who struggle to bend at the hips and wash their lower body |
shoe horn |
used to slide off the individuals shoes w/o them bending down or crossing the legs to remove them |
3-1 commode |
can be used as a raised toilet seat, separate toilet commode, shower chair |
tub bench |
draped over the edge of the tub so the individual can slide into the shower |
mechanical lift
if pt is capable of independent weight bearing |
no lift |
If the patient is incapable of weight bearing |
lift is essential |
If the patient is partial or non-weight bearing, |
may be a candidate for a mechanical lift, |
ability to follow directions |
comprehend and follow directions is another factor to consider when determining the safest method for transferring a patient. |
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AT
large key board |
A keyboard with enlarged keys, sometimes color coded. -improves key surface size for people with coordination deficits. -improves visibility for people with low vision. |
keyguard |
A hard-plastic keyboard cover with holes drilled over each key. -helps eliminate striking more than one key during typing for people with coordination deficits. |
expanded keyboard |
A large sized keyboard, usually made of a sturdy material, that provides increased surface area for typing. -used with individuals with severe upper extremity coordination deficits. |
ergonomic keyboard |
A keyboard that is curved to position the wrists and hands in neutral positions during typing. -used by people who type extensively to prevent repetitive motion syndromes. |
trackball mouse |
A computer mouse that incorporates a ball held in by a socket. The ball is connected to sensors within the mouse that detect its movement. The thumb or fingers are used to roll the ball which moves the cursor on the computer screen. -used by people with upper extremity coordination deficits or severe upper extremity weakness. |
joystick mouse |
A computer mouse that uses a joystick to move the cursor. This device can be operated either by hand or by mouth. -used by people with severe upper extremity coordination deficits or sever upper extremity weakness. -used by people with upper extremity paralysis. |
accessibility settings |
Settings on the operating system of a device that improve accessibility for all users. Settings include: -adjustments for screen and print size -adjustments for display contrast -settings for “sticky keys” (single key shortcuts) and other keyboard settings. -settings for cursor size and speed. -a magnifier app -colored overlay apps for reading text -a narrator app that reads all text on the screen. -a speech to text app that allows the user to dictate commands. -settings for closed captioning -settings that allow switch access. |
voice recognition |
Software and apps that allow the user to speak into a device to give commands or produce text. -also called Speech to Text |
word prediction |
Software and apps that predict what the user is going to type based on the first 1 or 2 key strokes. -used by people with learning disabilities. -used by people with deficits in fine motor coordination or other problems with typing. |
text to speech |
Software and apps that allow the user to listen to text already written on the screen. Can be used to read web pages or can be used to listen to and edit text in a document. |
switches |
Devices that adapt or enlarge the “on”, “off”, or “change” functions of electronic items to allow access by people with severe disabilities. There are many different types and sizes of switches. -can be operated by hand, mouth, head, or any other functioning muscle or active movement. -can be connected to a device by cord or Wi-Fi signal. -can be used for a single function or multiple functions. –Jelly bean switch – hand operated switch that is round and brightly colored, resembling a jelly bean. Often used with young children. –Sip and puff switch – a mouth operated switch that functions when the user either sucks or blows air through the switch straw. Often used by quadriplegics. –Twitch switch – a switch that operates by contracting muscle fibers of a single muscle to perform a single function. Used by high level spinal cord injury patients. |
environmental controls |
Systems that operate the environmental functions of a house, using adapted methods. |
augmentativce communication device |
Any device that provides a means of nonverbal communication. May be low tech, such as a picture board, or high tech, such as an electronic picture communication device with multiple layers. -used with people who do not have functional verbal communication. -the user must have high enough perceptual and cognitive abilities to be able to select pictures related to wants and needs. -operated by hand, touch screen, push button, switch, or eye gaze. |
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