Occupational Therapy Assistant Exam Prep Vocabulary

Comprehensive vocabulary terms and definitions from the OTA Exam Prep Course transcript, organized for study.

Absence seizure

Brief lapse or loss of awareness along with the absence of motor activity (including eye blinking)

Accessible route

Pathway with a minimum clear width of $36$ inches, except at doors

Accommodation

Ability to adjust focus of vision at different distances

Achondroplasia

Condition caused by an autosomal dominant trait that results in the stunting of ephiphyseal plate growth and cartilage formation; individuals usually grow to $4$ feet or less in height

Active terminal device

A body-powered, externally powered, or hybrid-powered hook or realistic-looking hand that assists with functional activities

Activity analysis

Analysis of an occupation or activity from a broader perspective within a given culture without contextualization

Activity demands

Aspects of an activity needed to carry it out, including objects used, space demands, social demands, sequencing, and required body functions

Acute phase of burn

Phase starting $72$ hours after burn injury or until wound is closed; medical treatment focuses on infection control and grafts

Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)

Law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in employment by private employers who have $15$ or more employees

Affective education

Cognitive-behavioral strategy in which the practitioner teaches skills to identify and recognize emotions and influences on emotions

Agnosia

Inability to recognize the importance of sensory impressions despite being able to recognize the elemental sensation of the stimulus

Akinesia

Impairment of voluntary and spontaneous movement initiation that results in freezing, especially during gait activities

Akinetic seizure

Loss of muscle tone for more than $30$ seconds; also called atonic seizures

Allen Cognitive Level 1

Level characterized by automatic actions; client is dependent on caregiver for ADLs

Allen Cognitive Level 5

Level characterized by exploratory actions; client can perform dressing, eating, and grooming activities without assistance

Allen’s cognitive disabilities groups: Level 3

Group participants at this level focus on elements of repetition and manipulation

Allodynia

Sensation misinterpreted as pain

Altruism

A core value of the profession: "Demonstrating concern for the welfare of others"

Alzheimer's disease (AD)

Disease characterized by progressive impairment of memory, executive function, attention, language, visual processing, and praxis

Amelia

Absence of a limb or distal segments of a limb

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

Progressive, degenerative disease in which the motor neurons in the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral system are replaced by scar tissue

Anencephaly

Neural tube defect causing lack of neural development above the level of the brain stem

Anomic aphasia

Term for difficulty finding words

Anterior interosseous syndrome

Compression resulting in motor loss involving the flexor pollicis longus, flexor digitorum profundus to the index finger, and pronator quadratus

Antideformity (safe position) burn splint

Splint maintaining: Wrist, $20^{\circ}$ extension; MCP joints, $90^{\circ}$ flexion; PIP and DIP joints, $0^{\circ}$ extension

Ape hand deformity

Median nerve injury resulting in sensory loss in index, middle, and radial side of ring finger and loss of thumb opposition

Apraxia

Loss of skilled, purposeful movements not attributed to primary motor deficits or comprehension problems

Arthrogryposis multiplex congenital

Condition present at birth characterized by incomplete contracture (fibrous ankylosis) of many or all joints

Assistive technology devices

Any item or product system used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities

Asthma

Condition characterized by bronchial smooth muscle hyperreactivity causing airway constriction, breathing difficulty, and wheezing

Ataxia

In cerebral palsy, tone usually within the normal range but involving lower extremity flexion patterns

Athetosis

Fluctuation of tone from low to normal with little spasticity

Atrial septal deficits

Heart defect characterized by an opening in the septum between the right and left atrial chambers

Autonomy

Ethics principle: Occupational therapy personnel shall respect the right of the individual to self-determination, privacy, confidentiality, and consent

Avulsion injury

Occurs when the tendon separates from the bone and removes bone material; includes Mallet finger and Boutonniere deformity

Axonotmesis

Peripheral nerve injury in which the endoneurium is intact, but the axon degenerates distal to the lesion

Ayres Sensory Integration

Theory and intervention where the goal is to alter the child’s CNS so they respond more effectively to the environment

Beneficence

Ethics principle: Occupational therapy personnel shall demonstrate a concern for the well-being and safety of the recipients of their services

Best-corrected vision

Sharpest vision attainable using the best eye with standard corrective lenses

BIRP

Progress note format: Behavior, Intervention, Response, Plan

Blindness

Best-corrected visual acuity of $\frac{6}{60}$ or worse (=$\frac{20}{200}$) in the better-seeing eye

Bradydysrhythmia

Condition characterized by an abnormally slow heart rate ($<60$ beats/min)

Broca's aphasia

Term for broken speech; slow, labored speech with frequent mispronunciations

Burn-related complications

Includes contracture, hypertrophic scar, heterotopic ossification, pain, heat intolerance, and pruritis

Canadian Model of Human Occupation (CMOP)

Model where human spirit is the central organizing structure of the person

Cardiac rehab: Phase 1

Inpatient stage focusing on progression of ADLs according to metabolic equivalent (MET) levels and home program development

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)

Largest third-party payer in the United States

Choreoathetosis

Constant fluctuations from low to high tone appearing as jerky movements

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Condition with damage to the alveolar wall and inflammation of the conducting airways

Claw deformity

Result of distal ulnar nerve compression or lesion at the wrist

Clinical features of Lewy body dementia

Deficits in executive function, fluctuating cognition, visual hallucinations, parkinsonism, and rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder

Clubhouse

Community centers for people with severe mental illness focusing on strengths and abilities rather than illness

COAST

Goal format: Client, Occupation, Assist level, Specific conditions, Timeline

Cognitive-behavioral theory

The idea that distorted thinking leads to the behavioral and emotional problems related to mental illness

Colles fracture

Complete fracture of the distal radius with dorsal displacement; the most common wrist fracture

Comminuted fracture

Term for when a bone is broken into many splintered pieces

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)

Pain disproportionate to an injury that is either sympathetically maintained or independent of the sympathetic nervous system

Congenital clubfoot (talipes equinovarus)

Condition with unilateral or bilateral forefoot adduction, supination, heel varus, and ankle equinus

Continuing competence

Process involving examination of current competence and development of capacity for the future

Contracture

Fixed posture due to shortening of skin, ligaments, joint capsule, tendons, and muscles

Contrast sensitivity

Ability to distinguish shades of gray or color and perceive objects against their background

Cumulative trauma disorder (CTD)

Trauma to soft tissue caused by repeated force; also called overuse syndrome

Curb-to-curb transportation

Service where passengers are picked up and dropped off at the curb of their origin and destination

Decerebrate rigidity

Upper and lower extremities in spastic extension, adduction, and internal rotation

Decorticate rigidity

Upper extremities in spastic flexed position with internal rotation/adduction; lower extremities in spastic extension

Deep brain stimulation

Delivery of electrical impulses to areas of the brain to reduce tremors

Definition of heavy work

Exerting $50$–$100$ lb of force occasionally, $25$–$50$ lb frequently, or $10$–$20$ lb constantly

de Quervain syndrome

Tenosynovitis of the abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis

Diagnostic reasoning

Clinical reasoning using investigative analysis of the cause and nature of conditions

Diplegia

Quadriplegia with mild upper extremity involvement and significant lower extremity involvement

Diplopia

Perception of two images of a single object (double vision)

Dressing skills: Age 2

Age child can doff coat after unfastening, remove untied shoes, and locate armholes in a shirt

Dressing skills: Age 5

Age child can tie and untie knots and dress without supervision

Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy (DMD)

Most common form of muscular dystrophy caused by a deficiency in dystrophin

Dynamic tripod grip

Pencil rests against the distal phalanx of the radial side of the middle finger; pads of fingers control movement; thumb is opposed to index finger

Dysphagia

Difficulty swallowing

Eccentric viewing

Technique for central vision loss where the person rotates the head to use peripheral vision (preferred retinal locus)

Emergent phase of burn

Phase $0$–$72$ hours after injury; focuses on sustaining life and managing pain

Epiphyseal fracture

A break between the shaft of the bone and the epiphysis; occurs only in pediatric clients

Erb-Duchenne palsy

Injury to C5 and C6 nerve fibers resulting in upper extremity paralysis, mostly affecting the shoulder

Essential job functions

Job duties fundamental to the position an individual holds or desires

False Claims Act

Protects the Government from being overcharged or sold substandard goods or services

Festinating gait

Small, rapid steps resulting from a forward-tilted head and trunk posture

Fidelity

Ethics principle: Occupational therapy personnel shall treat colleagues and clients with respect, fairness, and integrity

Five-level grip test

Common assessment used to determine maximum effort

Fixed-route transportation

Transportation alternatives with a fixed route and schedule between destinations

Focal TBI

Brain injury caused by a direct blow to the head from collision, fall, or penetrating injury

FOOSH

Abbreviation for Fall On an OutStretched Hand

Fragile X syndrome

Genetic disorder causing intellectual disabilities, elongated faces, large ears, and hypermobile joints

Freedom

A core value: Ensuring that the values and desires of the client guide interventions

Froment’s sign

Flexion of the IP of the thumb when a lateral pinch is attempted

Functional ability in C5 SCI

Full head/neck movement; ability to raise arms and flex elbows; no elbow extension; no bowel/bladder control

Functional capacity evaluation (FCE)

Objective assessment of a person’s ability to perform work-related tasks

Galactosemia

Inability to convert milk sugar to glucose; untreated can cause learning difficulties, tremors, and ataxia

Glasgow Coma Scale <8

Score indicating severe brain injury

Glaucoma

Obstruction of intraocular fluid causing increased pressure, reducing blood flow to optic nerve, and causing peripheral vision loss

Gower's sign

Use of hands to "crawl up" the thighs to stand from a sitting position (indicates Duchenne's muscular dystrophy)

Greenstick fracture

Bone is partially broken and partially bent; occurs only in children

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)

Inflammatory disease causing demyelination of axons in peripheral nerves

Hands-dependent sitter

Client uses hands to maintain seated position; system must provide pelvic/trunk support to free hands