A training program for operation of a head-controlled electric wheelchair.

A biofeedback training device providing auditory and visual feedback regarding head position in space was used to teach the head control necessary for the operation of a head-driven electric wheelchair. A case study of an adolescent with severe athetoid cerebral palsy is presented. The training program consists of four short-term goals: to provide trunk stability; to promote limb and postural control; to teach static head control; and to teach dynamic head control. The authors found that the biofeedback training device was a useful tool for teaching the head control required to operate a head-driven electric wheelchair. Among the recommendations discussed in the conclusion of this paper is the suggestion that certain pieces of equipment, such as a time-event counter and videotape equipment, would be very useful tools for collecting objective information about the patient's progress.