ATP Assistive Technology Professional (RESNA) 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary difference between an AT device and an AT service as defined by IDEA?
- AT devices are electronic while AT services are non-electronic supports
- AT devices are any item used to maintain or improve function; AT services include assessment, training, and support (Correct answer)
- AT devices require a prescription; AT services do not
- AT devices are funded by schools; AT services are funded by Medicaid
Correct answer: AT devices are any item used to maintain or improve function; AT services include assessment, training, and support
IDEA defines AT devices as any item that helps a student with a disability and AT services as activities like evaluation, selection, training, and maintenance that support device use.
Question 2: A client with traumatic brain injury exhibits impulsivity and difficulty sequencing tasks. Which AT strategy is MOST appropriate to support daily living skills?
- High-tech AAC device with complex vocabulary organization
- Visual step-by-step task prompting systems with auditory and visual cues (Correct answer)
- Standard smartphone without modifications
- Dense text-based reminder apps
Correct answer: Visual step-by-step task prompting systems with auditory and visual cues
Structured visual and auditory prompting systems break tasks into manageable steps, compensating for sequencing deficits and reducing cognitive overload after TBI.
Question 3: In AT funding, what does 'prior authorization' refer to?
- Approval from the client's family before ordering a device
- Pre-approval required from a funding source before a device is purchased or dispensed (Correct answer)
- Authorization to train a caregiver on device use
- Permission from RESNA to recommend a specific AT category
Correct answer: Pre-approval required from a funding source before a device is purchased or dispensed
Prior authorization is the process by which a funding source (e.g., Medicare, Medicaid) reviews and approves an AT device before it is provided, to verify medical necessity.
Question 4: When recommending hearing assistive technology for a client with moderate sensorineural hearing loss in a classroom setting, which device type directly improves the signal-to-noise ratio for the listener?
- Personal amplifier with omnidirectional microphone
- FM or digital modulation (DM) remote microphone system (Correct answer)
- Standard hearing aid without remote microphone
- Vibrotactile alert system
Correct answer: FM or digital modulation (DM) remote microphone system
FM and DM remote microphone systems transmit the speaker's voice directly to the listener's hearing aid or receiver, greatly improving signal-to-noise ratio over distance.
Question 5: An ATP conducting a driving rehabilitation evaluation discovers the client requires adaptive equipment but the client refuses to acknowledge the need. The BEST ethical course of action is:
- Recommend the adaptive equipment in the report without informing the client
- Document the client's functional deficits, explain safety risks, and defer final driving clearance pending acceptance of recommendations (Correct answer)
- Clear the client to drive to maintain the therapeutic relationship
- Refer the client to another ATP to avoid conflict
Correct answer: Document the client's functional deficits, explain safety risks, and defer final driving clearance pending acceptance of recommendations
Ethical AT practice requires honest documentation of functional limitations, clear communication of safety implications, and protecting public safety, even when the client disagrees.
Question 6: Which factor is LEAST relevant when selecting a power wheelchair drive control system for a new user?
- The user's available motor control sites and range of motion
- The user's cognitive ability to control directional input
- The color and aesthetic of the joystick housing (Correct answer)
- The user's spasticity and ability to sustain controlled movements
Correct answer: The color and aesthetic of the joystick housing
Motor control sites, cognition, and movement quality all directly affect drive control selection; cosmetic appearance of the joystick has no clinical relevance.
Question 7: The term 'feature matching' in AT assessment refers to:
- Matching the cost of a device to the client's insurance coverage
- Aligning a device's specific features and characteristics to the user's abilities, needs, and environment (Correct answer)
- Pairing two clients with similar diagnoses to use the same AT solution
- Finding the device with the most features within a given budget
Correct answer: Aligning a device's specific features and characteristics to the user's abilities, needs, and environment
Feature matching is the process of systematically comparing a client's assessed needs, skills, and contexts to the specific features of candidate AT devices.
ATP Assistive Technology Professional (RESNA) 5
What is the primary difference between an AT device and an AT service as defined by IDEA?