Question 1

Which statement is not true concerning dyspraxia?

Accepted Answer

Somatodyspraxia is not a degenerative disorder. It is a type of dyspraxia that specifically affects body awareness and motor planning.

Question 2

Ramon is a 12-year-old boy who will not play on the swings or slides at school. He has difficulty climbing up the second floor staircase at school and cannot sit in the bleachers. What type of problem does this depict?

Accepted Answer

Ramon's difficulty with using playground equipment and climbing the stairs suggests he may have gravitational insecurity, which is a fear of heights and/or movement. This can affect a person's ability to engage in activities involving changes in position, such as sitting in bleachers. Tactile defensiveness, postural insecurity, and proprioceptive problems are not directly related to Ramon's reported difficulties.

Question 3

What is Ayres's definition of sensory integration?

Accepted Answer

Ayres's definition of sensory integration is the organization of sensation for use, which involves the ability to take in sensory information from the environment, process it efficiently, and use it to respond appropriately. Sensory integration involves the integration of multiple sensory modalities, including touch, movement, vision, and auditory input, and is important for many aspects of development and daily function. The other choices (A, C, and D) are related to aspects of sensory processing or motor function, but are not as comprehensive as Ayres's definition of sensory integration.

Question 4

Max is a 12-month-old boy who is just learning to walk. He stands for short periods, sees his favorite toy, and takes one step and falls. The therapist places the favorite toy two steps away the next time. Which term describes this concept?

Accepted Answer

The therapist placing the toy two steps away from Max is an example of the just-right challenge. The challenge is not too easy, nor is it too difficult, and is appropriate for Max's current level of development. The other options, dyspraxia, somatosensory, and sensory integration, do not fit the scenario described.

Question 5

Which system detects head position and movement as well as gravity and pertains to the inner ear receptors, the semicircular canals, and the otolith organs?

Accepted Answer

The system that detects head position and movement as well as gravity and pertains to the inner ear receptors, the semicircular canals, and the otolith organs is the vestibular system. Proprioceptive refers to the sense of body awareness and position through receptors in muscles and joints, somatosensory refers to the sense of touch and temperature through receptors in the skin, and ideation refers to the process of forming ideas or concepts.

Question 6

The occupational therapist, Yvette, wants to use Ayres's sensory integration intervention to work with 9-year-old Jason. She has one swing and a small room in which to treat Jason. Which statement best reflects how Yvette can make this setting work?

Accepted Answer

Since Yvette wants to use Ayres's sensory integration intervention, the room should have a variety of suspended equipment, materials, and mats for safety. A single swing is not enough to provide the necessary sensory stimulation. Additionally, safety should be a top priority in the room. While some toys and sensory stimuli may be used, they should not be the main focus of the session.

Question 7

What term best describes 9-year-old Harvey's ability to hold on and pump the swing longer and higher this week?

Accepted Answer

Adaptive response refers to the ability of an organism to adjust to changes in its environment. In this case, Harvey's ability to hold on and pump the swing longer and higher this week is an example of an adaptive response.

Question 8

Charlie is a 10-year-old boy who will eat only mashed foods, does not like noises (e.g., he gets upset when the phone rings), and has difficulty sitting during meals. Charlie's parents report that he does not like new clothes and cannot wear jeans. What type of sensory integrative problem does Charlie have?

Accepted Answer

Charlie's difficulties with food textures and sensitivity to noise suggest that he may have sensory modulation problems, meaning his body over- or under-reacts to sensory input in a way that interferes with daily activities. His dislike of new clothes and jeans may also suggest tactile sensitivities. While these symptoms could potentially be related to other sensory integrative problems, such as problems with sensory discrimination and perception or vestibular-proprioceptive functions, sensory modulation problems seem most likely given the information provided. There is no information provided to suggest that Charlie has dyspraxia.

Question 9

Which statement most closely reflects the ingredients to promote neural plasticity in children?

Accepted Answer

Active interaction with a meaningful and challenging environment is the most effective way to promote neural plasticity in children. This means engaging in activities that require problem-solving, creativity, and critical thinking. Simply practicing a skill in the same setting may lead to mastery of that specific skill, but it does not necessarily promote overall brain development. Passive exposure to stimulating experiences may be interesting, but it does not promote active engagement and challenge the child's thinking. Graded sensory stimulation activities can be helpful, but they should still be part of an overall environment that encourages active interaction and challenge.

Question 10

Mary is 9 years old and does not know her right and left sides of her body. She is unable to move her feet without looking at them and is frequently bumping into things. With what is she experiencing difficulty?

Accepted Answer

Mary is experiencing difficulty with her body scheme, which is the ability to have an internal awareness of the position and movement of one's body parts. This can affect her ability to move and coordinate her body effectively. Praxis refers to the ability to plan and execute purposeful movement, sensory defensiveness refers to overreacting to sensory input, and sequencing refers to the ability to organize and execute steps in a specific order.

Question 11

How did Ayres view sensory input?

Accepted Answer

Ayres viewed sensory input as nourishment for the brain. She believed that by providing appropriate sensory experiences, the brain could learn and develop new neural connections, leading to improved function and behavior.

Question 12

Lisa is an 8-year-old girl who bumps into things frequently, bears down hard on her pencil at school, and stands very close to her friends. Lisa gets in trouble in school because she is always "talking herself through" her handwriting homework. Lisa likes to play rough at home and is frequently called a bully by her younger brother. What type of dysfunction does this scenario depict?

Accepted Answer

Lisa's symptoms suggest she is experiencing proprioceptive problems, which is a sensory dysfunction related to body awareness and coordination. This is characterized by difficulty with spatial awareness, motor planning, and coordination. Lisa's difficulty using her pencil and frequently bumping into things suggest difficulty with motor planning and spatial awareness, while standing close to her friends and playing rough at home may indicate a need for increased sensory input to regulate her body position and movements. Her "talking herself through" handwriting homework may suggest she struggles with coordinating her movements for writing.

Question 13

Which principle is not part of Ayres's sensory integration intervention?

Accepted Answer

Ayres's sensory integration intervention does not necessarily begin with sensory stimulation. Instead, it begins with observation and assessment of the child's sensory processing abilities. The other principles listed, including balance between structure and freedom, individualized approach, and active participation of the child, are all important components of Ayres's sensory integration intervention.

Question 14

Which statement reflects Ayres's theory of central nervous system (CNS) organization?

Accepted Answer

Ayres's theory of CNS organization suggests that increased efficiency at the lower levels of the CNS (such as the brain stem and thalamus) can enhance higher-order functioning. This is because these lower levels are responsible for basic sensory and motor processing, and more efficient processing here frees up resources for more complex processing at higher levels (such as the cortex). This view is often used to explain the benefits of sensory integration therapy, which aims to improve the efficiency of sensory processing at these lower levels.

Question 15

Trevor runs up to the ball and misses, falling on the ground. However, he is able to kick the ball without difficulty when it is rolled toward him. Trevor is having difficulty with which motor concept?

Accepted Answer

Trevor's difficulty with running up to the ball and missing it, but being able to kick it when it is rolled toward him, indicates a problem with projected action sequence. This concept involves the ability to anticipate and plan the timing and positioning of movements in relation to a moving object, which is where Trevor is struggling.

Quiz 11: Sensory Integration

Which statement is not true concerning dyspraxia?