Activity analysis and grading

Random practice

A method of learning that involves learning skills associated with a task in a varied order

Specific cue

Level of graded cueing that includes visual, verbal, or tactile prompt as a reminder to change behavior or action; used when general cue is ineffective

Graded cue

Varying levels of guidance to support activity performance and participation with modification and adjustments to allow for progression towards independence, cues can be:
• visual
• verbal
• tactile

Activity pacing

Energy conservation technique that includes:
• integrating regular rest breaks into daily activities
• establishing daily habits and routines
• maintaining adequate sleep hygiene

Incremental gradation of occupation

Gradual increase or decrease in activity and/or environmental demands to optimize a client’s performance, typically started from where the client will be successful

Gesture training

Compensatory intervention for neurobehavioral deficits that includes providing graded levels of task demands in two phases:
• transitive gesture training (client demonstrates use of common objects)
• intransitive gesture training (client performs pantomime gestures based on cues)

Caregiver adaptation

Process of modifying perceptions, actions, and skills by the person providing care, based on the needs of the recipient of care

Activity planning

Energy conservation technique that involves looking ahead days, weeks or months to develop a strategy for organizing and scheduling tasks based on occupational roles, priorities, task demands and expected energy expenditure levels and includes time for rest and recovery

Progressive-part learning

A technique for teaching skills in which the therapist breaks down a task into several steps and teaches each step individually to the client

General cue

Visual or verbal guidance to prompt self-monitoring and modification to performance

Activity modifications

Adaptations to activities or tools to:
• promote a lifestyle change
• facilitate independence
• reduce injury or health-related risk

Handling

Therapeutic technique that involves providing physical support and cueing to manually guide the torso or limbs into functional movement patterns

Support is graded based on the amount of assistance the client needs

Blocked practice

A method of learning that involves practicing the same skill or task over and over

Task simplification

Method of grading activity to allow the capacity of the client to match activity demands, may involve:
• breaking an activity into smaller parts
• eliminating steps of an activity
• modifying objects used during the activity