In recent years, due to advances in technology, the types of assistive device and the number of people owning assistive devices have gradually increased. However, several studies indicate that the number of people who possess assistive devices far exceeds the number of people who actually use them. The emerging phenomenon of device abandonment stresses the importance of assistive technology outcome research in order to understand device users' needs in their everyday usage and maximize the benefit of assistive technology intervention. This study aimed to provide an account of assistive technology outcome research. The author firstly summarized studies concerning device abandonment rate and then explored the reasons influencing device use or non-use. Finally, the important conceptual models in the field of outcome research were introduced.