COTA Domain 1 Mini Test Questions and
Solutions
An OTR and a COTA who work in an outpatient setting are collaborating to measure the
dexterity and fine motor impairment in a client who has problems with hand function.
Which standardized assessment would be BEST for this purpose? - answer Nine-
hole peg test: (is used to measure dexterity and fine motor impairment, whereas the
dynamometer and the pinch gauge measures power associated with strength.)
A COTA and an OTR, who both work in a skilled nursing facility, are collaborating to
promote health literacy for all clients who participate in OT. In addition to reviewing the
reading level and clarity of client education handouts, what other action is MOST
BENEFICIAL for the COTA take as a part of this process? - answer Develop a
variety of multisensory informational resources: (is MOST BENEFICIAL to be able to
customize client education to address the needs of clients and caregivers who have
different learning styles.)
A COTA is measuring the blood pressure of an adult client as part of an assessment of
basic vital signs. Which option represents a normal range for diastolic blood pressure in
an adult client? - answer 60 - 80 mmHg: [The normal range for diastolic blood
pressure measurement (or the bottom number in the blood pressure reading) in an adult
client is 60 - 80 mmHg. This is the pressure in the blood vessels when the heart rests
between beats.}
Which type of grasp involves holding a small object with the tip of the index finger and
the thumb and is TYPICALLY used to pick up a bottle cap? - answer Pincer(A pincer
grasp is used to hold and pick up smaller objects using the tip of the index finger and
the thumb.)
For a typically developing child, which position would be MOST BENEFICIAL to
promote independence in self-feeding? - answer Positioned upright with head in
slight flexion (Placing a child in an upright position with the head in slight flexion is
optimal to promote hand-to-mouth actions, to facilitate a safe and effective swallow, and
to allow the child to visually see the food and make eye contact with others who are
sitting at the table)
An inpatient has left hemiplegia secondary to a CVA 3 days ago. One of the patient's
goals is to be able to bathe independently. What would be the FIRST step for
supporting progress toward this goal? - answer Determine the patient's routines and
current self-care abilities. (Assessment of the patient's BADL routines and current
functional skill level is required FIRST to determine the durable medical equipment,
assistive devices and instructions necessary to promote bathing independence.)
, Which of the following options represent procedures TYPICALLY associated with non-
standardized assessments? - answer A.Informal observation of a student's social
interactions during recess
B.Interview with the student's classroom and physical education teachers
E.Completion of a site-developed checklist during a classroom activity
-These options represent non-standardized assessments which are informal methods to
gather information but do not have a specific administration or scoring protocol, nor the
ability to compare results against a group of age peers.
A student in the fifth grade of school has moderate developmental delay and
participates in school-based OT. The COTA is gathering information to provide to the
OTR for the student's upcoming reevaluation. Which information is MOST IMPORTANT
to obtain for this purpose? - answer Performance patterns during routine classroom
activities: (In a school-based setting, it is MOST IMPORTANT to communicate the
student's progress related to curriculum-based school activities.)
A COTA is reviewing the medical record of a patient in an acute care hospital. In
addition to a hospitalist, who is coordinating the medical care for the patient, the patient
is also under the care of a psychiatrist. What is the PRIMARY role of a psychiatrist on
the interprofessional team? - answer To prescribe medication and assist with issues
of coping associated with mental health disorders(The role of the psychiatrist on the
interprofessional team is to prescribe medication and assist with issues of coping
associated with mental health disorders.)
Which task would require a client to complete a minimum of 150° of elbow flexion
without using compensation techniques? - answer Bringing hand to mouth during
self-feeding(whereas bringing hand to mouth requires a minimum of 150° of elbow
flexion.)
Which would be the MOST CHALLENGING activity for a 9-month-old child with
developmental delay who has a persistent rooting reflex? - answer Maintaining head
in midline(When the child's mouth or cheek is touched, the rooting response is to turn
the head toward the stimulus. Persistent rooting reflex results in difficulty maintaining
head in midline.)
Which symptoms typically have the MOST impact on self-feeding for a client who has
stage 1 Parkinson's disease? - answer Incoordination and bradykinesia: The initial
stage of Parkinson's disease is typically characterized by these signs. These symptoms
will have the MOST impact on the client's ability to self-feed.
Which would be the MOST challenging activity for an adolescent who has problems with
topographical orientation? - answer Navigating a retail store when
shopping(Topographical orientation is the ability to become familiar with the
environment and surroundings in order to navigate or intentionally move from place to
place.)
Solutions
An OTR and a COTA who work in an outpatient setting are collaborating to measure the
dexterity and fine motor impairment in a client who has problems with hand function.
Which standardized assessment would be BEST for this purpose? - answer Nine-
hole peg test: (is used to measure dexterity and fine motor impairment, whereas the
dynamometer and the pinch gauge measures power associated with strength.)
A COTA and an OTR, who both work in a skilled nursing facility, are collaborating to
promote health literacy for all clients who participate in OT. In addition to reviewing the
reading level and clarity of client education handouts, what other action is MOST
BENEFICIAL for the COTA take as a part of this process? - answer Develop a
variety of multisensory informational resources: (is MOST BENEFICIAL to be able to
customize client education to address the needs of clients and caregivers who have
different learning styles.)
A COTA is measuring the blood pressure of an adult client as part of an assessment of
basic vital signs. Which option represents a normal range for diastolic blood pressure in
an adult client? - answer 60 - 80 mmHg: [The normal range for diastolic blood
pressure measurement (or the bottom number in the blood pressure reading) in an adult
client is 60 - 80 mmHg. This is the pressure in the blood vessels when the heart rests
between beats.}
Which type of grasp involves holding a small object with the tip of the index finger and
the thumb and is TYPICALLY used to pick up a bottle cap? - answer Pincer(A pincer
grasp is used to hold and pick up smaller objects using the tip of the index finger and
the thumb.)
For a typically developing child, which position would be MOST BENEFICIAL to
promote independence in self-feeding? - answer Positioned upright with head in
slight flexion (Placing a child in an upright position with the head in slight flexion is
optimal to promote hand-to-mouth actions, to facilitate a safe and effective swallow, and
to allow the child to visually see the food and make eye contact with others who are
sitting at the table)
An inpatient has left hemiplegia secondary to a CVA 3 days ago. One of the patient's
goals is to be able to bathe independently. What would be the FIRST step for
supporting progress toward this goal? - answer Determine the patient's routines and
current self-care abilities. (Assessment of the patient's BADL routines and current
functional skill level is required FIRST to determine the durable medical equipment,
assistive devices and instructions necessary to promote bathing independence.)
, Which of the following options represent procedures TYPICALLY associated with non-
standardized assessments? - answer A.Informal observation of a student's social
interactions during recess
B.Interview with the student's classroom and physical education teachers
E.Completion of a site-developed checklist during a classroom activity
-These options represent non-standardized assessments which are informal methods to
gather information but do not have a specific administration or scoring protocol, nor the
ability to compare results against a group of age peers.
A student in the fifth grade of school has moderate developmental delay and
participates in school-based OT. The COTA is gathering information to provide to the
OTR for the student's upcoming reevaluation. Which information is MOST IMPORTANT
to obtain for this purpose? - answer Performance patterns during routine classroom
activities: (In a school-based setting, it is MOST IMPORTANT to communicate the
student's progress related to curriculum-based school activities.)
A COTA is reviewing the medical record of a patient in an acute care hospital. In
addition to a hospitalist, who is coordinating the medical care for the patient, the patient
is also under the care of a psychiatrist. What is the PRIMARY role of a psychiatrist on
the interprofessional team? - answer To prescribe medication and assist with issues
of coping associated with mental health disorders(The role of the psychiatrist on the
interprofessional team is to prescribe medication and assist with issues of coping
associated with mental health disorders.)
Which task would require a client to complete a minimum of 150° of elbow flexion
without using compensation techniques? - answer Bringing hand to mouth during
self-feeding(whereas bringing hand to mouth requires a minimum of 150° of elbow
flexion.)
Which would be the MOST CHALLENGING activity for a 9-month-old child with
developmental delay who has a persistent rooting reflex? - answer Maintaining head
in midline(When the child's mouth or cheek is touched, the rooting response is to turn
the head toward the stimulus. Persistent rooting reflex results in difficulty maintaining
head in midline.)
Which symptoms typically have the MOST impact on self-feeding for a client who has
stage 1 Parkinson's disease? - answer Incoordination and bradykinesia: The initial
stage of Parkinson's disease is typically characterized by these signs. These symptoms
will have the MOST impact on the client's ability to self-feed.
Which would be the MOST challenging activity for an adolescent who has problems with
topographical orientation? - answer Navigating a retail store when
shopping(Topographical orientation is the ability to become familiar with the
environment and surroundings in order to navigate or intentionally move from place to
place.)
