Portable Voice Recorder Appears to be a Useful Memory Aide

Past Studies

Past Studies show that individuals who receive moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries commonly have problems with thinking skills, such as memory, problem-solving, and learning new information. Traditionally, therapists have taught individuals to use lists and datebooks as reminders to help with thinking skills. Because of advances in technology, portable electronic devices are available, such as pagers or PDAs (personal digital assistants). Electronic devices have been perceived as more “socially acceptable” than notebooks and lists by individuals with traumatic brain injury because mainstream society uses them. Research has found that portable electronic devices are helpful for providing reminders, such as using an alarm to remind an individual to take a medication at a certain time. Research has not explored if cues from electronic devices can lead to changes in general behavior. 

This Study

This Study examined the use of a portable electronic recording device as a tool to remind participants to review their therapy goals during the day to see if it would lead to the recall of and follow through with treatment goals after a week of this process. This small study included ten adults who experienced moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries and had problems with memory skills. It had been a year since the majority of the participants had received their traumatic brain injuries. They were enrolled in a community re-entry program or a clubhouse day program and attended therapies 2 to 5 times per week. The electronic recording device, called a Parrot Voice Mate III, is a device that records and playbacks voice messages. It is small and can be worn on a belt.

Prior to the study period, the participants were trained to use the device. Three of six therapy goals for each participant were randomly selected and recorded on the device by the healthcare provider. When the device’s alarm went off 3 times per day, the participant was instructed to play the recording of their goals. The participants were monitored for compliance and were provided help with any unexpected technical difficulties. After a week, the individuals’ recall of the therapy goals was tested. The researchers found that the participants were able to recall the recorded goals more completely and accurately, with and without cues, compared to the goals that were not recorded. With no cues, the group recalled almost half of the content (“gist” and details) of their recorded goals, but almost none of the content from their unrecorded goals. The participants also appeared to have a greater awareness of and follow through with the recorded goals. All of the participants reported that they liked using the device and six reported that they thought it helped them to remember their therapy goals.

Who May Be Affected By These Findings

Individuals with traumatic brain injuries, health care providers, researchers

Caveats

This was a small trial and the results cannot be generalized. Reported changes in the participants’ behavior were based on clinical observations or interviews and therefore, subject to interpretation. Objective measures, those not subject to interpretation, would produce a more accurate assessment.

Bottom Line

The participant’s therapy goals that were recorded on portable electronic devices and played several times during the day were recalled more frequently than goals that were not recorded. Participants appeared to be more aware of their recorded goals and more likely to follow through with them. The researchers suggest that future studies include objective measures to study the effect of portable electronic devices on behavioral changes.

 

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