Bridgette Bielawski

Team Tunnel
Sources:
American Speech Language Hearing Association. (n.d.). Degree of Hearing Loss. Retrieved
from: https://www.asha.org/public/hearing/Degree-of-Hearing-Loss/
Bielawski, Bridgette. Team Tunnel. 2018. Temple University, Pennsylvania. Unpublished paper.
Games For Youth Groups (n.d.). Tunnel Ball. Retrieved from: http://www.games4youthgroups.c
om/contest-games/Tunnel-ball.html
Thorslund, B., Peters, B., Herbert, N., Holmqvist, K., Lidestam, B., Black, A., & Lyxell, B.
(2013). Hearing loss and a supportive tactile signal in a navigation system: Effects on
driving behavior and eye movements. Journal Of Eye Movement Research, 6(5).
doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.16910/jemr.6.5.1

Equipment Needed:
- 1 Inch Chrome Ball x 1
- 1 Foot, ½ Inch Thick PVC Pipe Halves x 10 (For 10 participants; this number is subject to vary
per group size) AKA “tunnels”
- Blind Folds / Eye Covers x 10 (For 10 participants; this number is subject to vary per
group size)
- Bin x 1 (Any bin that the chrome ball can fit into will do)

Activity Description:
Prior to initiating the activity, the recreational therapist (RT) will have prepared 10 PCV pipe
halves (AKA “tunnels”) for participant use; this can be done by visiting a local hardware store
(i.e. Lowes) and asking a service associate to cut 10 (or however many appropriate for the
anticipated group size) ½ inch thick, 1 foot in length PVC piping halves. The RT will then have
participants line up side-by-side, place a bin beside one participant at the furthest end of either
side, distribute the blind folds/eye covers and instruct participants to cover their eyes, and
distribute one PVC “tunnel” per participant after participants have completed the former tasks,
respectively. Participants will also be instructed to hold their PVC “tunnels” horizontally,
approximately as high as one’s midline. The RT will then explain the rules as follows: the RT
will place a chrome ball on the PVC “tunnel” of the participant on the furthest end of the line,
opposite to the participant next to the bin. This participant will tilt their PVC “tunnel” to allow
the ball to roll until it reaches the next participant’s tunnel. Upon feeling the weight shift off of
their “tunnel”, this participant will remove their blindfold and verbally instruct the blindfolded
participant next to them on how to adjust their “tunnel” so that it rolls properly onto the
following participant’s tunnel. This will continue consecutively until the ball reaches the final
participant, who will be verbally guided by the previous participants on how to tilt their “tunnel”
for the ball to land within the bin. The goal of this activity is for the chrome ball to roll down
each participant’s PVC “tunnel” until it lands within the bin.

Primary Interaction Pattern:

Intragroup; action of a cooperative nature by two or more persons intent upon reaching a mutual
goal; action requires positive verbal or nonverbal interaction. This interaction pattern was chosen
with the intent to promote socialization skills among participants such as turn-taking, listening,
following directions and overall cooperation.

Adaptation:
Participants who have hearing impairments related to moderate hearing loss at ranges of 41-55
decibels—as defined by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association—may exhibit
difficulty with hearing and understanding sounds at typical indoor-speaking volume ranges (p. 1,
n.d.). The RT facilitating this activity will therefore instruct participants in advance to
communicate loudly and clearly with one another. The activity is also adapted in using the
chrome ball for it’s weight; the weight shift of the PVC “tunnels” is more tactilely obvious than
if using a different ball (i.e. a rubber stress ball or small marble) which can assist participants
through sensory feedback in knowing when the ball has reached them, as well as how to tilt their
PVC “tunnel” for the ball to shift away from them, while blindfolded.