NBCOT Occupational Therapy Certification Practice Study
Guide Questions with Distinction level Marking scheme
version 2024/2025
A 3-year-old has accidentally ingested lead while playing near ceramic tiles that the
family bought to renovate their house. A system that an ot working in pediatric acute
care would note to be affected by lead poisoning would be:
A. Vocal
B. Circulatory
C. Digestive
D. Cardiac - correct answer b. In lead poisoning, lead affects the circulatory system
by severely limiting the body's ability to synthesize heme, leading to the accumulation of
alternate metabolites in the body and, ultimately, anemia. The most significant and
irreversible damage occurs in the nervous system. Fluid builds up in the brain, and
intracranial pressure can reach life-threatening levels. Cortical atrophy and lead
encephalitis can lead to mental retardation, paralysis, blindness, and deafness.
(occupational therapy for children by case-smith)
A child with cerebral palsy shows significant impairment in the function of the lower
extremities with mild involvement of the upper extremities. The classification of cerebral
palsy for this child would be:
A. Hemiplegia
B. Tetraplegia
C. Choreoathetosis
D. Diplegia - correct answer d. In diplegia, the lower extremities are impaired
significantly, with only mild involvement of the upper extremities. Hemiplegia involves
the impairment of upper and lower limbs on one side of the body, and tetraplegia or
quadriplegia means that all four extremities are affected. Therefore, diplegia is the
possible classification of the child's condition. (occupational therapy for children by
case-smith)
A 7-year-old child is diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (adhd). An
etiology for adhd would be:
A. Environmental factors
, B. Visual and auditory stimulation
C. Food allergies and food additives
D. Neurochemical imbalances - correct answer d. Although researchers are still
struggling to find conclusive evidence for the etiology of adhd, studies have
demonstrated that adhd runs in families and three genes have been found to be related
to adhd implicating genetic factors. Imaging in individuals with adhd has shown
decreased activity in the frontal parietal lobes, which inhibit impulsiveness, pointing to
neurologic factors. Medications that influence neurotransmitter function are effective in
treatment of adhd, indicating neurochemical imbalances. (occupational therapy for
children by case-smith)
A 5-year-old child has been diagnosed with a pervasive disorder that affects both the
neurologic and motor behavioral functions. The diagnosis that most closely relates to
the child's condition is:
A. Respiratory distress syndrome
B. Tourette's syndrome
C. Asperger's syndrome
D. Learning disabilities - correct answer b. Tourette's syndrome is a pervasive
disorder that affects neurologic and motor behavioral function, especially motor tics and
vocalizations. Therefore, it is likely that the child has tourette's syndrome. (occupational
therapy for children by case-smith)
A 5-year-old child with down syndrome shows significant loss of weight, high fever, and
paleness, and is diagnosed with acute lymphoid leukemia. In which of the following
phases of leukemia will he be administered chemotherapy to treat small deposits of
cells that remain after remission?
A. Phase i - induction therapy
B. Phase ii - central nervous system prophylaxis
C. Phase iii - intensification and consolidation
D. Phase iv - maintenance or continuation therapy - correct answer c. Chemotherapy
is administered in phase iii - the intensification and consolidation phase- to remove
small deposits of cells that remain after remission. (occupational therapy for children by
case-smith)
Guide Questions with Distinction level Marking scheme
version 2024/2025
A 3-year-old has accidentally ingested lead while playing near ceramic tiles that the
family bought to renovate their house. A system that an ot working in pediatric acute
care would note to be affected by lead poisoning would be:
A. Vocal
B. Circulatory
C. Digestive
D. Cardiac - correct answer b. In lead poisoning, lead affects the circulatory system
by severely limiting the body's ability to synthesize heme, leading to the accumulation of
alternate metabolites in the body and, ultimately, anemia. The most significant and
irreversible damage occurs in the nervous system. Fluid builds up in the brain, and
intracranial pressure can reach life-threatening levels. Cortical atrophy and lead
encephalitis can lead to mental retardation, paralysis, blindness, and deafness.
(occupational therapy for children by case-smith)
A child with cerebral palsy shows significant impairment in the function of the lower
extremities with mild involvement of the upper extremities. The classification of cerebral
palsy for this child would be:
A. Hemiplegia
B. Tetraplegia
C. Choreoathetosis
D. Diplegia - correct answer d. In diplegia, the lower extremities are impaired
significantly, with only mild involvement of the upper extremities. Hemiplegia involves
the impairment of upper and lower limbs on one side of the body, and tetraplegia or
quadriplegia means that all four extremities are affected. Therefore, diplegia is the
possible classification of the child's condition. (occupational therapy for children by
case-smith)
A 7-year-old child is diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (adhd). An
etiology for adhd would be:
A. Environmental factors
, B. Visual and auditory stimulation
C. Food allergies and food additives
D. Neurochemical imbalances - correct answer d. Although researchers are still
struggling to find conclusive evidence for the etiology of adhd, studies have
demonstrated that adhd runs in families and three genes have been found to be related
to adhd implicating genetic factors. Imaging in individuals with adhd has shown
decreased activity in the frontal parietal lobes, which inhibit impulsiveness, pointing to
neurologic factors. Medications that influence neurotransmitter function are effective in
treatment of adhd, indicating neurochemical imbalances. (occupational therapy for
children by case-smith)
A 5-year-old child has been diagnosed with a pervasive disorder that affects both the
neurologic and motor behavioral functions. The diagnosis that most closely relates to
the child's condition is:
A. Respiratory distress syndrome
B. Tourette's syndrome
C. Asperger's syndrome
D. Learning disabilities - correct answer b. Tourette's syndrome is a pervasive
disorder that affects neurologic and motor behavioral function, especially motor tics and
vocalizations. Therefore, it is likely that the child has tourette's syndrome. (occupational
therapy for children by case-smith)
A 5-year-old child with down syndrome shows significant loss of weight, high fever, and
paleness, and is diagnosed with acute lymphoid leukemia. In which of the following
phases of leukemia will he be administered chemotherapy to treat small deposits of
cells that remain after remission?
A. Phase i - induction therapy
B. Phase ii - central nervous system prophylaxis
C. Phase iii - intensification and consolidation
D. Phase iv - maintenance or continuation therapy - correct answer c. Chemotherapy
is administered in phase iii - the intensification and consolidation phase- to remove
small deposits of cells that remain after remission. (occupational therapy for children by
case-smith)
