Motor Access & Alternative Input Methods Flashcards
7 cards from real AAC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Motor Access & Alternative Input Methods flashcards as text
Which professional is MOST qualified to evaluate seating, positioning, and mounting needs for AAC users with complex physical disabilities?
Answer: An occupational therapist specializing in assistive technology
An OT specializing in assistive technology has targeted expertise in seating systems, positioning, and upper extremity function critical for optimizing physical access to AAC.
A child with cerebral palsy shows reliable movement in one finger but inconsistent head control. Which access method should be trialed FIRST?
Answer: Single-finger direct touch with a keyguard
When a reliable voluntary movement exists (controlled single finger), direct selection with physical support such as a keyguard should be trialed before moving to more complex access methods.
What is 'access assessment' in AAC clinical practice?
Answer: The systematic evaluation of a user's physical abilities to determine how they can best control an AAC device
Access assessment is the systematic clinical process of evaluating motor capabilities, posture, and physical skills to identify the most efficient and reliable method for controlling an AAC device.
When mounting an AAC device to a wheelchair, which factor takes highest clinical priority?
Answer: Positioning the device optimally for the user's specific access method and motor control
The primary purpose of wheelchair mounting is to optimize the device position for the user's access method and motor capabilities, enabling efficient and accurate communication.
What is the clinical term for the identified body part and movement pattern a user can consistently and voluntarily control to activate a switch?
Answer: Reliable access site
A 'reliable access site' refers to the specific body part and movement pattern identified as the user's most consistent voluntary motor control point for switch activation or direct selection.
During an AAC access trial, a user with ALS consistently overshoots targets on a touchscreen. What adaptation should be considered FIRST?
Answer: Enlarging target size and/or applying a keyguard
Enlarging targets and using a keyguard reduces the motor precision required for accurate selection, directly addressing the overshooting pattern observed and supporting functional communication.
What primarily differentiates 'directed scanning' from 'automatic scanning'?
Answer: In directed scanning, the user actively controls scanning direction and pace using switches
In directed scanning, the user uses multiple switches to actively control the direction and speed of cursor movement, giving more motor agency than the automatic timed advance of automatic scanning.