The design of saliva wicking scarves for individuals with oral-motor impairments

Abstract

Children with oral-motor impairments have trouble in swallowing their saliva, leading to problems with drooling (Hornibrook & Cochrane, 2012). Most children with this problem wear a bib-like clothing protector to avoid drool wetting their shirts or remaining on their neck, which might cause skin irritation. However, there do not exist a lot of choices for clothing protectors on the market. Caregivers of children with disabilities revealed that there were not enough color and style options for them to choose. This research aimed to develop quick-drying and high wicking scarves for children with oral-motor impairments, which would be aesthetically pleasing and functional to absorb liquid. The scarves also needed to be easy to make so that individuals who have interests and sewing skills could make them in the community. I aimed to create do-it-yourself (DIY) manuals for the scarves developed in this thesis to be shared through posting online after completion of testing. The first stage of the study involved assessing the end-users needs. This was conducted from two sources: posted consumer reviews of products on the market and interview conducted with participants recruited. Then I developed several scarf designs, performed textile testing, and evaluated the final prototypes via feedback from end users.