Chapter 3

Question 0

Talk about stimulus presentation rate.

Answer 0

Stimulus presentation rate should be at a slow, even pace that is relatable to the patient.

Question 1

What should you consider before assessing a brain injured patient?

Answer 1

Reflects how the patient is currently as well as their premorbid personality. Keep in mind that responses can be altered due to slower processing rate and muscle fatigue.

Question 4

What is perseveration? And what should you do when it occurs in testing?

Answer 4

The repetition of a response even when the stimulus item has changed. If the patient continues to perseverate, stop testing and show them how to move on to the next stimulus.

Question 5

What is diminished response flexibility?

Answer 5

Difficulty changing responses when tasks require change.

Question 6

Name the things patients with brain injury have difficultly with.

Answer 6

Brain injured patients have difficulties with abstract concepts and figurative language. They tend to take things literally. They also have poor self monitoring so initially therapy should be structured. And their attention span/ability to focus may get worse with testing.

Question 7

What are some emotional problems brain injured people experience?

Answer 7

Their emotions aren’t situationally appropriate (called the pseudo bulbar effect). They tend to have catastrophic reactions, inappropriate outbursts, and low frustration tolerance. This is also seen in patients with dementia (along with those who have brain injury)

Question 8

What is differential diagnosis?

Answer 8

The ability to differentiate between disorders and even subcategories within a disorder. Naming the disorder may aid in localization of the lesion site

Question 9

Name the three variables of prognosis and characteristics of each.

Answer 9

1) Neurological findings- neurological changes affect communication changes. Extent of neurological damage affects outcome. Site of lesion affects outcome. Presence and duration of coma affects outcome:
2) Associated conditions- patients overall health otherwise. Presence of motor impairments or hemiplegia indicate poorer prognosis.
3) Patient Characteristics- age, gender, education, SES may all play a role in prognosis as well. For example, well educated people respond better to therapy since they’re more open to the idea of being taught.

Question 10

Describe efficacy and effectiveness with regards to baselines and recovery.

Answer 10

Treatment should be efficacious (measurable) and effective (applicable to the patient’s daily life).