NBCOT PRACTICE EXAM 1 QUESTIONS COMPLETE WITH 100%
VERIFIED ANSWERS AND DETAILED EXPLANATIONS
1. An OT is preparing to evaluate a toddler who has upper extremity
orthopedic concerns. How will the OT MOST likely obtain the majority of
initial assessment data?
A. Measurement tools that assess visual-motor skills
B. Dynamometer and pinch meter readings.
C. Observation of child during activities in the child-care center.
D. Functional independence measures.
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Through observation of the child during child-care center activities,
the OT can collect information about the child's motor performance skills and
participation in activities that require upper extremity/hand skill. Naturalistic
observation is a method of ecological assessment, which is "a primary mechanism
for obtaining data relevant to the child's performance context..... Skilled
observation of child performing a functional task offers..... important information
about the child's performance". Answers A, B, and D are all appropriate choices
after the child is old enough for these assessments.
2. During an initial evaluation, the OT suspects that a child has
somatodyspraxia. In what area should the OT focus the evaluation?
A. Ability to print or write.
B. Reading competency.
,C. Math calculations.
D. New motor task planning.
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: "Somatodyspraxia is described as a deficit in learning new motor
skills, planning new motor actions, and generalizing motor plans." Inability to print
or write (answer A) is termed "dysgraphia." The term "dyslexia" (answer B) means
dysfunction in reading. Inability to perform mathematics (answer C) is known as
"dyscalculia"
3. An OT working in a long-term care facility needs to evaluate the long-term
memory of a resident. Which of the following methods is BEST for
evaluating memory or personally experienced events (declarative
memory)?
A. Show the person a series of objects and ask him to recall the objects within 60
seconds.
B. Ask the individual how he spent New Year's.
C. Have the individual state the place, date, and time.
D. Ask the client to remember to bring a specific item to the next therapy session.
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: "Declarative memory is one aspect of long term memory and
includes conscious memory for events, knowledge or facts". It is commonly
assessed through verbal interviews and informal testing such as asking a question
about an individual's recall of personal events (answer B). Working memory refers
to "the temporary storage of information while one is working with it or attending
to it" (answer A). "Prospective memory involves the ability to remember
intentions or activities that will be required in the future" (answer D). Knowing the
date, place, and time is indicative of orientation (answer C).
4. A child avoids playground equipment that requires her feet to be off the
ground. What does this behavior MOST likely indicate?
,A. Difficulty modulating proprioception.
B. Somatodyspraxia
C. Gravitational insecurity
D. Bilateral integration/sequencing deficit.
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Gravitational insecurity is described as "fear response to movement".
The child easily experiences a fear of falling and prefers to keep her feet firmly on
the ground. Tactile defensiveness (answer A) is a term used to describe discomfort
with various textures and with unexpected touch. Somatodyspraxia (answer B) has
is "foundation in somatosensory (e.g. primarily tactile but also proprioceptive)
discrimination deficits, which interfere with the development of body scheme and
awareness". Bilateral integration and sequencing deficits are related to "poor
vestibular-proprioceptive discrimination, which interferes with the ability to
coordinate, sequence, and execute motor actions quickly and efficiently".
5. When the OT suspects tactile defensiveness as a rationale for a child's
challenges, in what area of participation should the OT focus on FIRST?
A. Play behavior
B. Dressing habits
C. Social skills
D. Leisure interests
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Children with tactile defensiveness are "bothered by tactile aspects
of daily living activities.... specific types of clothing.... specific textures materials".
The child may be bothered by certain textures or avoid wearing turtlenecks, socks,
or shoes. Conversely, some children may never take off their shoes to avoid tactile
stimulation. Play behavior (answer A), social skills (answer C), and the choice of
hobbies (answer D) could be affected secondarily, as a result of intolerance to
certain textures or human touch. Knowledge of the child's dressing habits will give
the OT key information at the start of the evaluation process.
, 6. An OT is working with an individual with schizophrenia who is in the process
of preparing to move from a state hospital to a group home. During a
baking group, the client becomes agitated and leaves the room when
another client uses the electric hand mixer to mix the cake batter, and again
when two clients begin to argue loudly about which type of icing to use.
How would the OT BEST describe the behavior?
A. Low registration
B. Sensory avoiding
C. Sensation seeking
D. A hearing impairment
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The individual's actions are indicative of sensor avoiding behavior,
characterized by a low threshold to stimuli perceived as noxious, followed by an
active response such as leaving the room. Individuals with sensory avoiding
behavior may "become distressed in situations in which they cannot control the
environment" and "do well in low stimulus situation or settings that others find
dull". An individual with low registration (answer A), sensory seeking behavior
(answer C), or a hearing impairment (answer D) would not have difficult with the
auditory stimulation caused by the roar of the mixer or loud voices.
7. During a self-care evaluation of an individual who recently sustained a brain
injury, the OT instructs the individual to comb his hair immediately after he
washes his face. The individual washes his face quickly, but then the
therapist must give him several reminders to comb his hair. The OT is MOST
likely to identify this as a deficit in what area?
A. Working memory
B. Judgment
C. Hearing
D. Abstraction
Correct Answer: A
VERIFIED ANSWERS AND DETAILED EXPLANATIONS
1. An OT is preparing to evaluate a toddler who has upper extremity
orthopedic concerns. How will the OT MOST likely obtain the majority of
initial assessment data?
A. Measurement tools that assess visual-motor skills
B. Dynamometer and pinch meter readings.
C. Observation of child during activities in the child-care center.
D. Functional independence measures.
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Through observation of the child during child-care center activities,
the OT can collect information about the child's motor performance skills and
participation in activities that require upper extremity/hand skill. Naturalistic
observation is a method of ecological assessment, which is "a primary mechanism
for obtaining data relevant to the child's performance context..... Skilled
observation of child performing a functional task offers..... important information
about the child's performance". Answers A, B, and D are all appropriate choices
after the child is old enough for these assessments.
2. During an initial evaluation, the OT suspects that a child has
somatodyspraxia. In what area should the OT focus the evaluation?
A. Ability to print or write.
B. Reading competency.
,C. Math calculations.
D. New motor task planning.
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: "Somatodyspraxia is described as a deficit in learning new motor
skills, planning new motor actions, and generalizing motor plans." Inability to print
or write (answer A) is termed "dysgraphia." The term "dyslexia" (answer B) means
dysfunction in reading. Inability to perform mathematics (answer C) is known as
"dyscalculia"
3. An OT working in a long-term care facility needs to evaluate the long-term
memory of a resident. Which of the following methods is BEST for
evaluating memory or personally experienced events (declarative
memory)?
A. Show the person a series of objects and ask him to recall the objects within 60
seconds.
B. Ask the individual how he spent New Year's.
C. Have the individual state the place, date, and time.
D. Ask the client to remember to bring a specific item to the next therapy session.
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: "Declarative memory is one aspect of long term memory and
includes conscious memory for events, knowledge or facts". It is commonly
assessed through verbal interviews and informal testing such as asking a question
about an individual's recall of personal events (answer B). Working memory refers
to "the temporary storage of information while one is working with it or attending
to it" (answer A). "Prospective memory involves the ability to remember
intentions or activities that will be required in the future" (answer D). Knowing the
date, place, and time is indicative of orientation (answer C).
4. A child avoids playground equipment that requires her feet to be off the
ground. What does this behavior MOST likely indicate?
,A. Difficulty modulating proprioception.
B. Somatodyspraxia
C. Gravitational insecurity
D. Bilateral integration/sequencing deficit.
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Gravitational insecurity is described as "fear response to movement".
The child easily experiences a fear of falling and prefers to keep her feet firmly on
the ground. Tactile defensiveness (answer A) is a term used to describe discomfort
with various textures and with unexpected touch. Somatodyspraxia (answer B) has
is "foundation in somatosensory (e.g. primarily tactile but also proprioceptive)
discrimination deficits, which interfere with the development of body scheme and
awareness". Bilateral integration and sequencing deficits are related to "poor
vestibular-proprioceptive discrimination, which interferes with the ability to
coordinate, sequence, and execute motor actions quickly and efficiently".
5. When the OT suspects tactile defensiveness as a rationale for a child's
challenges, in what area of participation should the OT focus on FIRST?
A. Play behavior
B. Dressing habits
C. Social skills
D. Leisure interests
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Children with tactile defensiveness are "bothered by tactile aspects
of daily living activities.... specific types of clothing.... specific textures materials".
The child may be bothered by certain textures or avoid wearing turtlenecks, socks,
or shoes. Conversely, some children may never take off their shoes to avoid tactile
stimulation. Play behavior (answer A), social skills (answer C), and the choice of
hobbies (answer D) could be affected secondarily, as a result of intolerance to
certain textures or human touch. Knowledge of the child's dressing habits will give
the OT key information at the start of the evaluation process.
, 6. An OT is working with an individual with schizophrenia who is in the process
of preparing to move from a state hospital to a group home. During a
baking group, the client becomes agitated and leaves the room when
another client uses the electric hand mixer to mix the cake batter, and again
when two clients begin to argue loudly about which type of icing to use.
How would the OT BEST describe the behavior?
A. Low registration
B. Sensory avoiding
C. Sensation seeking
D. A hearing impairment
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The individual's actions are indicative of sensor avoiding behavior,
characterized by a low threshold to stimuli perceived as noxious, followed by an
active response such as leaving the room. Individuals with sensory avoiding
behavior may "become distressed in situations in which they cannot control the
environment" and "do well in low stimulus situation or settings that others find
dull". An individual with low registration (answer A), sensory seeking behavior
(answer C), or a hearing impairment (answer D) would not have difficult with the
auditory stimulation caused by the roar of the mixer or loud voices.
7. During a self-care evaluation of an individual who recently sustained a brain
injury, the OT instructs the individual to comb his hair immediately after he
washes his face. The individual washes his face quickly, but then the
therapist must give him several reminders to comb his hair. The OT is MOST
likely to identify this as a deficit in what area?
A. Working memory
B. Judgment
C. Hearing
D. Abstraction
Correct Answer: A
