Interaction of Behavioral State and Microswitch Use in Individuals With Profound Multiple Impairments

Potential relations between behavior state and switch use in 3 adults with profound multiple impairments were investigated. Observations were conducted during a regularly scheduled leisure activity. Each participant was provided with an adaptive switch that was connected to a preferred battery-operated leisure device. Closures of the adaptive switch produced activation of the device. Behavior states were measured using an abbreviated version of a state scale developed by Guess et al. [Guess, D., Roberts, S., Siegel-Causey, E., Ault, M. M., Guy, B., Thompson, B., and Rues, J. (1993). American Journal on Mental Retardation 97: 634–653]. Adaptive switch use was measured using an automated event recorder that recorded the time of each switch closure and release. Frequency and duration of switch closures were tallied using a computer software program, and then data on switch closures and ratings of behavior state were aligned in 1-min intervals. Results showed that although each of the 3 participants exhibited a predominant behavior state, changes in state within observation periods were common. Differences in rates and duration of switch closures were observed across behavior states, although interaction of state and adaptive switch use was idiosyncratic for each of the 3 participants.