The effectiveness of selected recreation activities in the rehabilitation of visual retention

Many persons in our society suffer from cerebrovascular accident and traumatic brain injury each year. Brain damage can result in severe functional deficits including a visual memory impairment. Games have been used as a learning medium for years and are used in the rehabilitation of persons suffering from traumatic brain injury.

It was the purpose of this study to determine the effectiveness of selected recreation activities in the treatment of visual retention of clients functioning at a level five or above on The Rancho Los Amigos Cognitive Functioning Scale. Sub-problems included

1. Determining the criteria for selection of recreational activities based on approval from the jury.

2. Selection of the battery of manufactured table games.

For the study, participants consisted of right cerebrovascular accident and traumatic brain injury patients at The Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center who were functioning at a level five or above on The Rancho Los Amigos Cognitive Functioning Scale. Fourteen patients participated and were randomly assigned to either a control group or an experimental group.

The Revised Visual Retention Test was given as a pre-test and post-test with ten therapy sessions administered between testings. Treatment consisted of a battery of three manufactured table games which were selected according to components of activity analysis deemed pertinent to the study by a jury of therapeutic recreation professionals. The games chosen were Simon, Math Lotto, and Colorado.

Results of this study did not support the use of manufactured table games in the rehabilitation of visual retention. Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences between the post-test scores of the control group and treatment group.

Recommendations for further research include replication of this study with a larger number of subjects, a longer treatment time, a different measure of performance, and a more extensive activity analysis to ensure that the most effective games are selected. It is also recommended that research be done in the area of therapeutic recreation to determine the most effective treatment modalities in the rehabilitation of common disabling conditions and their consequences.