Exam 1: Acquiring Information

Gladys, the 92-year-old wife of your client, complains about stiffness in her shoulders. But she says she can do everything for herself. You would expect her range of motion measurements to include:

A toddler receiving birth-to-three services is being referred for continued therapy at your school, once he turns 3 years old. Your OT department has asked you to gather the background information for this student. What should you do?

You see a 9-month-old infant with a congenital disorder at her home. She loves her siblings and follows them everywhere. What would you ask the mother to do to insure that the infant is able to participate in your therapy sessions?

Your patient Arlene is scheduled to be discharged from the nursing home in two days to go to her own home. What would be an appropriate activity to use to incorporate hand strengthening as you prepare her for discharge?

Arthur, a 75-year-old man, was just admitted to your rehabilitation unit. He is receiving treatment for Stage III colon cancer. What symptoms would you expect to observe?

Would you consider teaching ADL in a nursing home or home health setting?

Your elderly outpatient, Alice, cannot remember how to do her arm exercises. What can you do to help her remember?

Sylvia is an outpatient with a developmental disability. She has developed carpal tunnel syndrome from the job she was assigned to do at her sheltered workshop. Sylvia's sister complains to you that the workshop will not place Sylvia on an alternate job. How do you respond?

Hunter, your 9-year-old student with ADHD, has suddenly become irritable and aggressive toward his classmates. He complains of headaches. His mother informed you that Hunter saw the doctor the week before and his medication was adjusted. What do you suspect is the cause of Hunter's change in behavior?

The charge nurse for the rehabilitation unit informs you that you cannot see your patient at the scheduled time because the patient's physician is making rounds. This will throw off your entire schedule for the afternoon. What do you do?

Your work hardening patient, Shelly, is recovering from an L1-L2 laminectomy. She will be ready to return to her job at a local daycare center in about two weeks. What information will you need to gather to insure that Shelly is able to meet the physical requirements of her job?

Sarah is a third-grade student with a history of nerve graft secondary to a right brachial plexus injury. You notice that she rushes through her hand exercises and is sometimes resistant to working on tip pinch activities. Which of these factors is responsible for Sarah's behavior during therapy?

People with Down syndrome often thrust their tongues out as they concentrate on a task. Why do they do this?

You completed a therapeutic exercise protocol with your new hand patient, Linda. At Linda's next treatment session, she tells you that her hand hurt so bad after therapy that she could not move it for six hours. How should you respond to this information?

Your 3-year-old student with a diagnosis of seizure disorder is not progressing well in therapy. What might be the reason?

The local multiple sclerosis support group has asked you to give a presentation at its next meeting. The topic it requested is remaining independent at home. What area would you emphasize for this population during this presentation?