OTA Adaptive Equipment 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A client with limited hand function uses a mouth stick for computer access. Which keyboard adaptation is MOST essential to prevent fatigue?
- Wireless keyboard
- Keyguard (keyboard overlay with holes) (Correct answer)
- Large-print keyboard
- Split ergonomic keyboard
Correct answer: Keyguard (keyboard overlay with holes)
A keyguard provides a stable surface the mouth stick can rest on and guides it accurately into individual key holes.
Question 2: Which environmental modification BEST supports aging-in-place for a client with decreased balance?
- Adding thick carpet throughout the home
- Installing grab bars, adequate lighting, and removing throw rugs (Correct answer)
- Raising all furniture to counter height
- Replacing door knobs with lever handles only
Correct answer: Installing grab bars, adequate lighting, and removing throw rugs
Grab bars, improved lighting, and removal of tripping hazards address the primary environmental fall risk factors.
Question 3: A client with a unilateral upper extremity amputation is learning to use a body-powered prosthetic hook. Which activity BEST develops hook prehension control?
- Squeezing putty
- Picking up and placing objects of varying sizes (Correct answer)
- Passive range-of-motion exercises
- Weight-bearing through the residual limb
Correct answer: Picking up and placing objects of varying sizes
Graded object manipulation trains the client to modulate cable tension for opening and closing the terminal device with precision.
Question 4: Which adaptive eating device is MOST helpful for a client with an intention tremor affecting the upper extremities?
- Built-up utensil handle
- Weighted utensils (Correct answer)
- Swivel spoon
- Long-handled spoon
Correct answer: Weighted utensils
Weighted utensils add resistance that dampens the amplitude of intention tremors during eating tasks.
Question 5: A home health OTA notices a client's walker has worn tennis ball glides. The SAFETY concern is that worn glides:
- Make the walker too light
- Reduce friction and may cause the walker to slip (Correct answer)
- Increase drag on smooth floors
- Make the walker harder to lift
Correct answer: Reduce friction and may cause the walker to slip
Worn glides lose their texture, decreasing the friction needed to keep the walker stationary during weight bearing.
Question 6: A client with ALS and advancing upper extremity weakness needs to continue using a smartphone. The MOST appropriate low-tech adaptation is:
- Voice control only
- Stylus mounted in a universal cuff (Correct answer)
- Enlarged touchscreen icons
- Wireless Bluetooth keyboard
Correct answer: Stylus mounted in a universal cuff
A stylus in a universal cuff allows touchscreen access when grip is absent by using tenodesis or wrist motion.
Question 7: When training a client to use a reacher, the OTA should emphasize that the device should NOT be used to:
- Retrieve lightweight clothing from the floor
- Pick up items heavier than approximately 1–2 pounds (Correct answer)
- Open and close drawers
- Don socks when combined with a sock aid
Correct answer: Pick up items heavier than approximately 1–2 pounds
Reachers are designed for lightweight retrieval; using them for heavy items risks breaking the device or causing a fall.
OTA Adaptive Equipment 5
A client with limited hand function uses a mouth stick for computer access.
Which keyboard adaptation is MOST essential to prevent fatigue?