Occupational Therapy Assistant Test Occupational Therapy Assistant Test Sensory Processing and Integration 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI) theory was developed to explain how the brain processes which types of sensory information?
- Visual and auditory only
- Tactile, proprioceptive, and vestibular primarily (Correct answer)
- Olfactory and gustatory primarily
- Interoceptive and nociceptive only
Correct answer: Tactile, proprioceptive, and vestibular primarily
A. Jean Ayres emphasized tactile, proprioceptive, and vestibular processing as foundational to sensory integration and adaptive behavior.
Question 2: A child who seeks excessive movement, constantly jumps, and craves spinning activities is MOST likely demonstrating:
- Sensory over-responsivity (sensory defensiveness)
- Sensory under-responsivity (low registration)
- Sensory craving/seeking (Correct answer)
- Postural-ocular movement disorder
Correct answer: Sensory craving/seeking
Sensory seeking/craving describes a pattern where a child actively pursues intense sensory input, particularly proprioceptive and vestibular stimulation.
Question 3: Proprioception provides the central nervous system with information about:
- Light touch and temperature on the skin surface
- Body position, movement, and force generated by muscles and joints (Correct answer)
- The body's orientation in relation to gravity
- Visual tracking and eye-hand coordination
Correct answer: Body position, movement, and force generated by muscles and joints
Proprioceptors in muscles, tendons, and joints transmit information about body position, limb movement, and the degree of muscle force.
Question 4: The vestibular system, located in the inner ear, primarily detects:
- Sound frequency and volume
- Head position and movement relative to gravity (Correct answer)
- Skin pressure and vibration
- Muscle length and tension
Correct answer: Head position and movement relative to gravity
The vestibular system detects linear and angular acceleration of the head and its static position relative to gravity, contributing to balance and spatial orientation.
Question 5: A child who avoids wearing certain clothing textures, dislikes being touched unexpectedly, and overreacts to minor pain is demonstrating:
- Sensory discrimination disorder
- Sensory under-responsivity
- Tactile defensiveness / sensory over-responsivity (Correct answer)
- Dyspraxia
Correct answer: Tactile defensiveness / sensory over-responsivity
Tactile defensiveness is a form of sensory over-responsivity in which the nervous system overreacts to tactile stimuli that most people would find non-threatening.
Question 6: Which sensory diet component would MOST likely be used to provide calming, organizing input to a child who is over-aroused?
- Fast, unpredictable vestibular movement like spinning
- Heavy work activities such as pushing a cart or carrying books (Correct answer)
- Bright lighting and loud music
- Light tickling touch to the face
Correct answer: Heavy work activities such as pushing a cart or carrying books
Heavy work (resistive proprioceptive input) is generally organizing and calming to the nervous system and is a core strategy in sensory diet planning.
Occupational Therapy Assistant Test Occupational Therapy Assistant Test Sensory Processing and Integration 1
Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI) theory was developed to explain how the brain processes which types of sensory information?