Pediatric OT Flashcards
7 cards from real OTA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Pediatric OT flashcards as text
Which primitive reflex, when retained, interferes MOST with a child's ability to cross midline during tabletop tasks?
Answer: Asymmetrical tonic neck reflex (ATNR)
Retained ATNR causes arm extension when the head turns that direction, preventing the child from reaching across midline to the opposite side of the body.
An OTA working in a NICU is implementing developmental care for a premature infant. Which intervention is MOST consistent with this approach?
Answer: Minimize handling, reduce environmental stimuli, and support flexed positioning
NICU developmental care focuses on reducing stress by minimizing stimulation, supporting physiological flexion, and clustering care to promote neurodevelopment.
A parent asks an OTA why their child with sensory processing disorder seeks out spinning and crashing into cushions constantly. The OTA BEST explains this as:
Answer: Vestibular and proprioceptive seeking to regulate the nervous system
Sensory seekers engage in intense vestibular (spinning) and proprioceptive (crashing) input because their nervous system requires higher levels of sensory input to achieve regulation.
When collaborating with a teacher to modify classroom tasks for a child with fine motor delays, which modification is MOST appropriate for a writing task?
Answer: Allow the child to use a word processor or provide wider-ruled paper with a pencil grip
Adaptive tools like pencil grips, wider-ruled paper, or word processors support participation and skill development without removing the child from the academic curriculum.
A child demonstrates difficulty with figure-ground discrimination. Which daily task would this MOST affect?
Answer: Finding items in a cluttered backpack or on a busy worksheet
Figure-ground discrimination is the ability to distinguish a foreground object from a complex background; deficits make it hard to locate items among distractors on worksheets or in cluttered spaces.
According to IDEA, which term describes the written plan outlining special education services for a school-age child (ages 3–21)?
Answer: Individualized Education Program (IEP)
The IEP is the legally mandated document under IDEA Part B that outlines goals, services, and accommodations for eligible school-age children with disabilities.
An OTA is treating a 10-year-old with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Which joint protection strategy is MOST important to teach?
Answer: Use large joints instead of small joints and avoid sustained grip positions
Joint protection in JIA involves distributing forces across larger joints (e.g., using a whole hand rather than fingers) and avoiding prolonged static gripping to reduce inflammation and pain.