ASD UPDATED TEST PRACTICE QUESTIONS
WITH DETAILED EXPLANATIONS 2026
◉ A child remains in a minimally conscious state (Rancho Pediatric
Level V) following a TBI. To promote bone loading, stimulate
bowel/bladder function, and improve lung expansion, the physical
therapist plans a standing protocol using a tilt table. What is the
recommended dosage for this intervention to achieve these clinical
goals? A. 20 minutes, twice per week. B. 30 minutes, three times per
week. C. 45 to 60 minutes, five times per week. D. 90 minutes, daily.
Answer: C
◉ A 10-year-old child with a spinal cord injury at the T5 level is
performing seated balance activities when they become unusually
irritable and sleepy. The therapist notes the patient's skin is flushed
above the injury and they have a sudden spike in blood pressure.
After sitting the patient up, which noxious stimulus should be
investigated first as the most common trigger? A. A small skin tear
on the heel from a shoe. B. An overdistended bladder or bowel. C. A
developing stage I pressure ulcer on the ischium. D. In-growing
toenail on the right great toe.
Answer: B
◉ A physical therapist is reviewing the pathology of a pediatric
brain tumor located in the cerebellum. The report describes the
,tumor as fast-growing, highly malignant, and arising from
embryonic tissue. This description is most consistent with which of
the following? A. Cerebellar astrocytoma. B. Craniopharyngioma. C.
Medulloblastoma. D. Ependymoma.
Answer: C
◉ A therapist is assessing a 9-year-old with a severe ABI for the risk
of developing heterotopic ossification (PNBF). Which of the
following clinical factors would significantly increase this patient's
risk profile? A. Presence of a fracture requiring open reduction and
internal fixation. B. History of mild hyperactivity and impulsivity
prior to the injury. C. Use of a pediatric-specific modified spine board
during transport. D. Diagnosis of diabetes insipidus in the acute
phase.
Answer: A
◉ A 6-year-old child sustains a spinal cord injury following a motor
vehicle accident. Despite a clear neurological deficit, the initial plain
radiographs and CT scans show no signs of vertebral fracture or
dislocation. This clinical phenomenon is primarily attributed to
which pediatric anatomical characteristic? A. Incomplete vertebral
ossification and shallow facet angulation. B. Increased density of the
pediatric spinal cord compared to adults. C. Smaller head-to-torso
ratio causing less torque on the cervical spine. D. Greater
ligamentous laxity allowing spinal cord traction without bony
failure.
Answer: D
,◉ A physical therapist is evaluating the progress of an 8-year-old
child with an ABI using the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability
Inventory (PEDI). The child's baseline scaled score was 45, and their
current score is 52. How should the therapist interpret this change
based on minimal clinically important difference (MCID) values? A.
The change is significant as any increase in PEDI scores indicates
progress. B. The change is significant because it exceeds 5 points on
the scaled score. C. The change is not significant because it is less
than the standard error of measurement. D. The change is not
significant as it is less than the 11-point MCID for the PEDI.
Answer: D
◉ During gait training, a child with an ABI is able to improve their
walking speed through repetitive practice but cannot recall the
specific instructions or the training sessions from the previous day.
This scenario demonstrates the integrity of which neurological
system? A. Implicit memory mediated by the basal ganglia and
cerebellum. B. Explicit memory mediated by the medial temporal
cerebral areas. C. Retrograde memory mediated by the hippocampus
and diencephalon. D. Executive function mediated by the prefrontal
cortex.
Answer: A
◉ A therapist is managing a child in the acute phase of a severe TBI.
The medical team has instructed the therapist to ensure the
patient's head is elevated above the level of the heart. What is the
, primary physiological justification for this positioning? A. To prevent
the aspiration of fluids and reduce the risk of pneumonia. B. To
facilitate arterial blood flow to the brain and increase cerebral
perfusion. C. To facilitate venous outflow and reduce intracranial
pressure. D. To minimize the risk of developing pressure ulcers on
the enlarged occiput.
Answer: C
◉ A child's parents are asking about the long-term prognosis for
their child, who has been in a state of posttraumatic amnesia (PTA)
for 10 weeks following a TBI. According to clinical data on PTA
duration, which of the following is the most accurate prognostic
statement? A. A good recovery is highly likely since the PTA was less
than 3 months. B. A good recovery is unlikely because the duration
of PTA has exceeded 2 months. C. Functional recovery is guaranteed
as long as the child survives the first 48 hours. D. PTA duration is not
a valid predictor of motor and cognitive recovery.
Answer: B
◉ A 5-year-old boy is asked to stand up from a cross-legged position
on the floor. The therapist observes the child rolling into a prone
position and then using his hands to "walk" up his legs to achieve an
upright posture. This finding most likely indicates: A. A positive
Trendelenburg sign due to gluteus medius weakness. B. A positive
Ortolani sign due to developmental hip dysplasia. C. A positive
Gowers' sign indicating proximal muscle weakness. D. Normal motor
development for a child in the preschool age group.
WITH DETAILED EXPLANATIONS 2026
◉ A child remains in a minimally conscious state (Rancho Pediatric
Level V) following a TBI. To promote bone loading, stimulate
bowel/bladder function, and improve lung expansion, the physical
therapist plans a standing protocol using a tilt table. What is the
recommended dosage for this intervention to achieve these clinical
goals? A. 20 minutes, twice per week. B. 30 minutes, three times per
week. C. 45 to 60 minutes, five times per week. D. 90 minutes, daily.
Answer: C
◉ A 10-year-old child with a spinal cord injury at the T5 level is
performing seated balance activities when they become unusually
irritable and sleepy. The therapist notes the patient's skin is flushed
above the injury and they have a sudden spike in blood pressure.
After sitting the patient up, which noxious stimulus should be
investigated first as the most common trigger? A. A small skin tear
on the heel from a shoe. B. An overdistended bladder or bowel. C. A
developing stage I pressure ulcer on the ischium. D. In-growing
toenail on the right great toe.
Answer: B
◉ A physical therapist is reviewing the pathology of a pediatric
brain tumor located in the cerebellum. The report describes the
,tumor as fast-growing, highly malignant, and arising from
embryonic tissue. This description is most consistent with which of
the following? A. Cerebellar astrocytoma. B. Craniopharyngioma. C.
Medulloblastoma. D. Ependymoma.
Answer: C
◉ A therapist is assessing a 9-year-old with a severe ABI for the risk
of developing heterotopic ossification (PNBF). Which of the
following clinical factors would significantly increase this patient's
risk profile? A. Presence of a fracture requiring open reduction and
internal fixation. B. History of mild hyperactivity and impulsivity
prior to the injury. C. Use of a pediatric-specific modified spine board
during transport. D. Diagnosis of diabetes insipidus in the acute
phase.
Answer: A
◉ A 6-year-old child sustains a spinal cord injury following a motor
vehicle accident. Despite a clear neurological deficit, the initial plain
radiographs and CT scans show no signs of vertebral fracture or
dislocation. This clinical phenomenon is primarily attributed to
which pediatric anatomical characteristic? A. Incomplete vertebral
ossification and shallow facet angulation. B. Increased density of the
pediatric spinal cord compared to adults. C. Smaller head-to-torso
ratio causing less torque on the cervical spine. D. Greater
ligamentous laxity allowing spinal cord traction without bony
failure.
Answer: D
,◉ A physical therapist is evaluating the progress of an 8-year-old
child with an ABI using the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability
Inventory (PEDI). The child's baseline scaled score was 45, and their
current score is 52. How should the therapist interpret this change
based on minimal clinically important difference (MCID) values? A.
The change is significant as any increase in PEDI scores indicates
progress. B. The change is significant because it exceeds 5 points on
the scaled score. C. The change is not significant because it is less
than the standard error of measurement. D. The change is not
significant as it is less than the 11-point MCID for the PEDI.
Answer: D
◉ During gait training, a child with an ABI is able to improve their
walking speed through repetitive practice but cannot recall the
specific instructions or the training sessions from the previous day.
This scenario demonstrates the integrity of which neurological
system? A. Implicit memory mediated by the basal ganglia and
cerebellum. B. Explicit memory mediated by the medial temporal
cerebral areas. C. Retrograde memory mediated by the hippocampus
and diencephalon. D. Executive function mediated by the prefrontal
cortex.
Answer: A
◉ A therapist is managing a child in the acute phase of a severe TBI.
The medical team has instructed the therapist to ensure the
patient's head is elevated above the level of the heart. What is the
, primary physiological justification for this positioning? A. To prevent
the aspiration of fluids and reduce the risk of pneumonia. B. To
facilitate arterial blood flow to the brain and increase cerebral
perfusion. C. To facilitate venous outflow and reduce intracranial
pressure. D. To minimize the risk of developing pressure ulcers on
the enlarged occiput.
Answer: C
◉ A child's parents are asking about the long-term prognosis for
their child, who has been in a state of posttraumatic amnesia (PTA)
for 10 weeks following a TBI. According to clinical data on PTA
duration, which of the following is the most accurate prognostic
statement? A. A good recovery is highly likely since the PTA was less
than 3 months. B. A good recovery is unlikely because the duration
of PTA has exceeded 2 months. C. Functional recovery is guaranteed
as long as the child survives the first 48 hours. D. PTA duration is not
a valid predictor of motor and cognitive recovery.
Answer: B
◉ A 5-year-old boy is asked to stand up from a cross-legged position
on the floor. The therapist observes the child rolling into a prone
position and then using his hands to "walk" up his legs to achieve an
upright posture. This finding most likely indicates: A. A positive
Trendelenburg sign due to gluteus medius weakness. B. A positive
Ortolani sign due to developmental hip dysplasia. C. A positive
Gowers' sign indicating proximal muscle weakness. D. Normal motor
development for a child in the preschool age group.
