Practice Test GeeksNBCOT - National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy Practice Test
← All NBCOT Flashcard Decks

Human Development Across the Lifespan Flashcards

6 cards from real NBCOT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 6 Human Development Across the Lifespan flashcards as text

  1. According to Erikson's stages of psychosocial development, the primary task of adolescence (ages 12–18) is resolution of which conflict?

    Answer: Identity vs. Role Confusion

    Erikson's adolescent stage is Identity vs. Role Confusion, during which the young person explores roles, values, and beliefs to form a coherent self-concept. Intimacy vs. Isolation is young adulthood; Generativity vs. Stagnation is middle adulthood.

  2. A 4-year-old child is MOST likely to demonstrate which of the following fine motor skills?

    Answer: Cutting along a straight line with scissors

    By age 4, most children can cut along a straight line with scissors. Tying shoelaces emerges around age 5–6; drawing a person with six parts is typical near age 5; writing legible letters is a kindergarten-age skill.

  3. Normal aging changes an OT should anticipate when treating a healthy 75-year-old client include:

    Answer: Decreased proprioception, reduced grip strength, and slower reaction time

    Typical aging includes reduced proprioception, diminished grip strength, and slower processing and reaction time. Processing speed decreases with age; near vision and color discrimination worsen; both muscle mass and bone density decline.

  4. According to Piaget, a child in the preoperational stage (ages 2–7) would have MOST difficulty with which task?

    Answer: Conservation of volume

    Conservation — understanding that quantity remains constant despite changes in appearance — develops in the concrete operational stage (ages 7–11) and is absent in preoperational thought. Object permanence develops in the sensorimotor stage; symbolic play and language are hallmarks of preoperational development.

  5. A premature infant born at 32 weeks gestation is now 4 months old (chronological age). The OT should compare the infant's developmental skills against which age?

    Answer: 2 months corrected age

    Corrected age (chronological age minus weeks of prematurity) is used for developmental assessment in premature infants until approximately 2 years. A 32-week gestation infant is 8 weeks early, so at 4 months chronological the corrected age is 2 months.

  6. Which developmental theory emphasizes the role of social and cultural environment in shaping cognitive development and introduces the Zone of Proximal Development?

    Answer: Vygotsky's sociocultural theory

    Vygotsky's sociocultural theory holds that cognitive development occurs through social interaction within cultural contexts and introduces the ZPD — the gap between what a child can do alone versus with guided support. Piaget emphasizes internal cognitive structures; Bronfenbrenner emphasizes nested environmental systems.