Simulator Sickness Scores According to Symptom Susceptibility, Age, and Gender for an Older Driver Assessment Study

Abstract

The incidence and severity of simulator sickness results for an older driver assessment study is reported. The data from a total of 118 participants comprised of 67 older drivers (aged 70–90; 37 male, 30 female) and 51 younger drivers (age 21–50; 22 male, 29 female) was used for this study. The primary objective of this project was to develop a PC-based program in conjunction with a low-cost driving simulator that can be used for screening and potentially retraining the psychomotor, attentional, and cognitive skills of older drivers. A large range of sensory, perceptual, psychomotor, and cognitive tests were provided to validate the driving simulator and/or provide a comprehensive older driver assessment test battery. Simulator sickness ratings after 5 driving simulator sessions were obtained using the Kennedy, Lane, Berbaum, and Lilienthal (1993) Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ). Dropout and scenario completion rates suggest a higher symptom incidence for older drivers, particularly older female drivers. Scenario design effects are also discussed as it relates to dropout rates. SSQ analysis using nausea, oculomotor, and disorientation subscales across driving simulator sessions were performed for dropout participants and non-dropout participants. Contrary to dropout rates, no age effects were found in the SSQ data. No gender differences were found within the dropout group, but found in the non-dropout group for nausea and oculomotor scores. No relationship was found between contrast sensitivity and simulator sickness.