Joint Activities Between a Youth Who is Deafblind and an Intervener : Operational Definitions of Joint Tactile Attention

Abstract

The purposes of the present study were to clarify the process of development of joint activities between a 14-year-old male who was deafblind and an intervener through the sense of touch, and to develop operational definitions of joint tactile attention through a qualitative change in contact between the adolescent and the intervener. From video pictures recorded in 19 sessions, 36 episodes of joint activities were classified according to type of contact. 4 models of joint attention were found: "support-receiving joint attention," "following joint attention," "leading joint attention," and "intention-sharing joint attention."