THE EFFECTS OF DYNAVISION REHABILITATION ON BEHIND-THE-WHEEL DRIVING ABILITY AND SELECTED PSYCHOMOTOR ABILITIES OF PERSONS AFTER STROKE

Objective. Many conventional rehabilitation exercises, such as pencil- and-paper and computer tasks, may not train perceptual and motor skill s as applied to a complex, multiskill activity such as driving. The pr esent study examined the usefulness of the Dynavision apparatus for dr iving-related rehabilitation. The Dynavision was designed to train vis ual scanning, peripheral visual awareness, visual attention, and visua l-motor reaction time across a broad, active visual field. Method. Ten persons with a cerebrovascular accident participated in the study. Al l had failed behind-the-wheel driving assessments. Subjects participat ed in a 6-week Dynavision training program using exercises designed to impose various motor, perceptual and cognitive demands. Results. Dyna vision training resulted in significantly improved behind-the-wheel dr iving assessments as compared to expected outcomes Comparisons between pretests, posttests, and follow-up tests on a number of Dynavision, r esponse, and reaction time variables showed significant improvements a nd maintenance effects. Dynavision performance, and, to a lesser exten t, choice visual reaction and response times, were found to differenti ate between persons assessed as safe and unsafe to drive, and between older and younger drivers. Subject self-reports suggested that a varie ty of training-related improvements had occurred in everyday functioni ng. Conclusion. Dynavision training shows some rehabilitative promise for improving driving and basic psychomotor skills. Future research op t the benefits and limitations of this apparatus should use finer labo ratory skill measures and more comprehensive tests of driving and dail y functioning to assess more thoroughly skill improvements in persons after stroke.