2005, Vol.13, No.1

Korean Journal of Occupational Therapy 2023 KCI Impact Factor : 0.81

pISSN : 1226-0134 / eISSN : 2671-4450
https://journal.kci.go.kr/kjot

Objective : To evaluate the effectiveness of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation(NMES) treatment applied through electrodes placed on the neck in patients with dysphagia, and assess the safety of the treatment. Methods : NMES was administered for 10 dysphagia patients with a modified hand-held powered neuromuscular electrical stimulator connected to two pair of electrodes positioned on the neck for 1hour a day and 10times in 2weeks. The swallowing score was given between 0(aspirates own saliva) and 6(normal swallow) on the basis of the type of liquid consistency which can be swallowed by a patient without aspiration through Videofluroscopy(VFS) before and after NMES was started. The clinical findings of swallowing were evaluated before and after treatment and then went through comparative analysis by Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results : The swallowing score significantly increased from 1.6 to 4.4 (p＜0.05), and 90% of the patients showed improved swallowing. Also, gag reflex, cough reflex, tongue movement and laryngeal excursion with respect to swallowing were significantly recovered compared to before NMES. Conclusion : Therefore, NMES for dysphagia is proved to be safe and effective as it activates the muscles involving swallowing in the neck as well as is helpful for recovering the clinical finding of swallowing.

Objective : The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the association between the scores of COPM which are rated by clients and those of AMPS that are rated by occupational therapists when measuring the changes in the quality of occupational performances. Methods : Seven children with developmental disabilities between 3 and 15 years of age from a local after-school program in Seosan City participated in a client-centered occupational therapy program for six months (2 sessions per week). Results : Statistically significant differences were found in score changes in all areas (p=.018 respectively) except for AMPS-M (p=.141) through Wilcoxon signed ranks test after client-centered occupational therapy program. Positive high correlations were found between AMPS-P and COPM-P (rs = .901), between AMPS-P and COPM-S (rs = .857) through Spearman rank correlation coefficient. Conclusion : The results of this pilot study suggest that both COPM and AMPS are valid and sensitive measurement tools in detecting qualitative and quantitative changes of occupational performance after client-centered occupational therapy program and these two essential occupation-based assessments work in harmony regardless of cultural difference in measuring occupational therapy outcome.

Objective : This study examined the effects of using a weighted vest (deep pressure sensory input) for improving attention on cognitive tasks in children with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methods : Using an ABA single-subject experimental research design, the number of distractions and the duration of attention to cognitive task were measured in two children with ADHD over a period of 3 weeks. Before the study, the participants had not received a program of weighted-based sensory integration therapy. Results : Both participants significant displayed a decrease in the number of distractions and an increase in the duration of attention while wearing the weighted vest. During the intervention withdrawal phase, participant 1 experienced an increase in the number of distraction and decrease in the duration of attention, but participant 2 never returned to baseline levels for these behaviors. Conclusion : The findings support the application of weighted vest as a part of the services provided to some children with ADHD. Additional research is needed to develop protocol about the effectiveness of wearing a weighted vest.