OTR OTR Pediatric & Developmental Occupational Therapy 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When using the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-2 (PDMS-2), which subtests are evaluated by the occupational therapist rather than the physical therapist?
- Stationary and locomotion subtests
- Grasping and visual-motor integration subtests (Correct answer)
- Object manipulation and reflexes subtests
- Balance and running speed subtests
Correct answer: Grasping and visual-motor integration subtests
Occupational therapists typically administer the Grasping and Visual-Motor Integration subtests of the PDMS-2, as these assess fine motor skills within OT's scope.
Question 2: A preschool child receives OT for sensory modulation difficulties and displays sensory-seeking behaviors. Which activity would BEST provide the proprioceptive and vestibular input this child craves?
- Quiet coloring at a desk
- Spinning in a net swing followed by jumping on a trampoline (Correct answer)
- Listening to calming music
- Finger painting with light strokes
Correct answer: Spinning in a net swing followed by jumping on a trampoline
Spinning in a net swing provides vestibular input while jumping on a trampoline provides proprioceptive input, directly meeting the sensory-seeking child's need for intense movement feedback.
Question 3: Which standardized assessment is MOST appropriate to evaluate functional daily living skills in a child aged 6 months to 7.5 years?
- Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) (Correct answer)
- Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOT-2)
- Sensory Profile 2
- Beery VMI
Correct answer: Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI)
The PEDI assesses functional capabilities and caregiver assistance in self-care, mobility, and social function for children from 6 months to 7.5 years.
Question 4: An OTR working with a child with Down syndrome addresses hypotonia during fine motor tasks. Which strategy BEST compensates for reduced hand muscle tone during writing?
- Reduce writing time to zero
- Use a slanted writing surface and weighted pencil grip (Correct answer)
- Switch to purely verbal assessments
- Splint all finger joints in extension
Correct answer: Use a slanted writing surface and weighted pencil grip
A slanted surface promotes wrist extension and stabilizes the forearm, while a weighted grip increases proprioceptive feedback, both compensating for hypotonia during writing.
Question 5: A 9-year-old child with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is struggling with ball skills at school. Which evidence-based intervention approach is MOST recommended for DCD?
- Sensory integration therapy focusing on vestibular input
- Task-oriented approach (e.g., CO-OP) targeting specific functional skills (Correct answer)
- Passive stretching of upper extremities
- Sensory diet with brushing only
Correct answer: Task-oriented approach (e.g., CO-OP) targeting specific functional skills
The Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP) is a task-oriented, evidence-based approach recommended for DCD that teaches self-discovery of performance strategies.
Question 6: During a neonatal ICU (NICU) evaluation, an OTR observes an infant with disorganized feeding including frequent gagging and nasal flaring. The MOST appropriate immediate intervention is:
- Increase the flow rate of the bottle nipple
- Implement pacing by removing the nipple every 3–5 sucks to allow the infant to breathe (Correct answer)
- Begin oral motor exercises immediately
- Switch the infant to cup feeding
Correct answer: Implement pacing by removing the nipple every 3–5 sucks to allow the infant to breathe
Pacing by briefly removing the nipple allows the infant to regulate the suck-swallow-breathe sequence, reducing gagging and signs of respiratory compromise during feeding.
OTR OTR Pediatric & Developmental Occupational Therapy 2
When using the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-2 (PDMS-2), which subtests are evaluated by the occupational therapist rather than the physical therapist?