Cognitive Impairment and EAT
Abstract This chapter discusses the influence of cognitive impairment in the prescription and effective use of electronic assistive technology (EAT). The authors consider the impact of cognitive, emotional and executive impairments on the use of EAT, and the effect of the course and prognosis of different types of neurodevelopmental versus acquired or progressive disorders. Self-awareness and motivation are also considered as key influences on the use and outcome of EAT. The effects of executive, attention and memory impairments on the ability to engage with technology and its implications for the uptake of EAT are explored, alongside strategies and technology developed to address these problems. The authors conclude the chapter by emphasising the importance of the development and improvement of affordable technologies with health applications. They highlight the usefulness of the neuro-socio-technical and technology acceptance models as a framework to adopt when prescribing EAT to people with cognitive impairments to fully consider the interplay between clinical presentation, social environmental factors and technological capabilities.