Noncontact Gesture-Based Switch Improves Communication Speed and Social Function in Advanced Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: A Case Report.

ABSTRACT: Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) enables digital access for individuals with severe motor impairment. Conventional contact-based switches rely on residual voluntary movement, limiting efficiency. We report the clinical application of a novel, researcher-developed noncontact assistive switch, the Augmentative Alternative Gesture Interface (AAGI), in a 39-year-old male with late-stage Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) retaining minimal motion. The AAGI converts subtle, noncontact gestures into digital inputs, enabling efficient computer operations. Before intervention, the participant used a conventional mechanical switch, achieving 12 characters per minute (CPM) in a 2 min text entry task and was unable to perform high-speed ICT tasks such as gaming or video editing. After 3

SUBMITTER: Nishida D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12652835 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature