Adaptive Driving

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Are there options to help a patient re-learn how to drive safely?

Adaptive Driving

Because of the medications cancer patients take, a cancer patient may lose the physical ability to drive. Driving becomes an unsafe activity, yet a cancer patient may still drive because he or she does not have a choice—there is no one to drive him or her, and there is no access to public transportation because of the area where he or she lives.

A cancer patient can be evaluated by his or her physician and recommended for adaptive driving therapy. A therapist will judge the driver's effectiveness and safety while behind the wheel, and can then set up a program to help the driver reacquire the skills needed to drive safely. Evaluations assess vision, perception, reflexes, range of motion, coordination, attention, memory and problem solving.

The patient will complete an on-the-road evaluation for further evaluation. A certified driving specialist rides in the vehicle with the patient to assess his or her driving skills. This will show the therapists what areas the driver needs help with, and a special program is set up for the patient. If a cancer patient needs physical adaptive driving equipment, such as a steering wheel knob to help with range of motion problems, this will be integrated into the program. The patient will be able to learn how to use certain equipment to be able to drive safely.

   

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