Deck 9: Using Clinical Observations Within the Evaluation Process

Question 1

A therapist during her evaluation watches a child playing on the playground and notices that she struggles to hold onto the trapeze bar and to lift her legs up off the ground to swing. This therapist ___________________.

A)Has completed a formal structured observation to assess postural control
B)Can conclude poor flexion against gravity based on this unstructured clinical observation
C)Can conclude the child has poor motor planning abilities
D)Is completing one of Ayres' formal clinical observations

Answer 1

Can conclude poor flexion against gravity based on this unstructured clinical observation

Question 2

Anticipatory mechanisms support a child's postural control and motor accuracy by __________.

A)Activating postural muscles effectively in preparation for skilled action
B)Maintaining stable positions through muscle contractions
C)Feedback mechanisms that control movement by adapting to changes in body position
D)Muscle strength and physical endurance

Answer 2

Activating postural muscles effectively in preparation for skilled action

Question 3

All of the following are effective clinical observations for assessing balance EXCEPT _____________.

A)Time child can stand on one foot
B)Walking heel-to-toe on a line
C)Time standing on tip toes with eyes open and then eyes closed
D)Holding a prone extension posture

Answer 3

Holding a prone extension posture

Question 4

Which is the most effective clinical observation for determining if a 6-year-old child has gravitational insecurity?

A)Ask the child to walk up a flight of stairs
B)Have the child bounce on a therapy ball with feet on the ground
C)Ask the child to stand heel-to-toe on a soft surface such as a mat with eyes closed
D)Hold the child's legs while the child is sitting on a therapy ball and ask the child to lean back over the ball

Question 5

Clinical observation of diadochokinesis _____________________.

A)Provides information primarily on a child's praxis abilities
B)Involves performing rapid alternating forearm pronation and supination movements and observing for fluidity of movement and upper extremity coordination
C)Provides information primarily on tactile discrimination abilities
D)Can often be made during a child's unstructured, natural gross motor play activities

Question 6

Insights regarding a child's ability to modulate tactile input, including over- and under-reactivity to touch, can often be obtained ________________________.

A)While observing the child's response to the therapist's touch when given physical assistance
B)While observing the child engage in tactile play such as at a sensory table
C)By asking the child or parent about how the child reacts to touch and certain tactile materials such as whether certain types of clothing bother the child
D)All of the above

Question 7

Accurate interpretation of clinical observations as part of the evaluation process relies on ___________________.

A)Therapist experience and standardized equipment
B)Proper administration of the structured observations, use of normative data when available, and application of sensory integration (SI)theory relevant to the clinical observations made
C)Opportunity to conduct all possible relevant structured and unstructured observations
D)Full cooperation of the child

Question 8

Which of the following set of activities is most useful for observing a child's bilateral motor coordination and bilateral integration?

A)Sit-ups and pushups
B)Kicking a ball and jumping on a trampoline
C)Performance of jumping jacks, stride jumps, and skipping
D)Running and stopping; broad jump (jump forward with two feet together)