Description

EDS and DAS were developed to assess cognitive abilities necessary for safe driving and to demonstrate them to the client to promote correct decisions on where and how to continue driving. The off-road assessments offer feedback to the client on complex driving capabilities while in a safe environment. Suggested population includes older drivers or persons recovering from head injury or stroke.

The assessment takes about 20 minutes for the EDS and then about 1 hour for the DAS portion. Client is seated in a chair in front of the driving console. They suggested that foot pedal assembly may be placed on the lap for hand operation as an adaptation.

Areas included in this assessment are screening of vision, motor function, and neurological status. This information is gathered through background information including driving history and a self-appraisal by the client to rate there perception of current driving abilities such as reaction time, impulse control, ability to sustain performance, flexibility, eye–hand coordination, and judgment. Then abilities including steering control, speed of reaction, field of vision, adjusting, self-control, and consistency, are assessed during increasingly complex simulated driving tasks.

Once completed the program prints two reports, the technical report for the OT and the personal report which is printed in simpler language for your client. Both include norm-based score summaries with performance ratings compared to self-appraisal ratings. Scores below the established cut off indicate that safe driving is unlikely. Simulation results will also provided suggested recommendations for further testing, training, or vehicle modifications.17

Who is originally responsible for this Tool?

Rosamond Giatnutsos, PhD, CDRS, FAAO; Aaron Beattie, BA