Judgment and problem-solving can be demonstrated through adherence to safety precautions and working through the steps of self-care activities. For example, you can assess cause and effect during a cooking task or a conversation about “what happens if…?” Directional concepts can be screened by having a client describe their home environment or the hospital/clinic. Consider assessing these functions in the context of therapeutic activities throughout your treatment session. Before dismissing power mobility, you can consider performing a simple cognitive screening.Īt the most basic level, clients need to understand and demonstrate cause and effect, stop-and-go concepts, directional concepts, judgment, problem-solving, following directions, and motivation for PMD. However, you are also concerned about the client’s cognitive impairments and whether they could safely utilize a PMD. Suppose you are working in an inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation setting with a client after a cerebrovascular accident (CVA), and you think the client would benefit from a PMD. The Powered Mobility Device Assessment Training Tool (PoMoDATT).The Functional Evaluation Rating Scale (FERS).The Power Mobility Community Driving Assessment (PCDA).The Power Mobility Indoor Driving Assessment (PIDA).Power Mobility Driving Assessment Tools Available Online It is important to assess motor skills and performance-based outcomes, including trialing powered mobility with the client however, because of the uncertainty surrounding necessary cognitive skills, many individuals are precluded from powered mobility evaluations and trials early on in the rehabilitation process, even when they may have the necessary cognitive functions to use a PMD safely. Furthermore, current PMD driving assessment tools, highlighted below, focus primarily on motor skills and performance-based outcomes rather than cognitive skills. 3Īlthough specific cognitive abilities have been associated with PMD use, the research is unclear as to what level of cognition is required for the safe use of PMD. 3 Therapists often consider cognitive functions necessary for driving a car-such as reaction time, attention, visuospatial capacities, executive functioning, and memory-when evaluating an individual for a PMD. For example, intellectual functions, visual and visuospatial perception, attention, abstraction, judgment, organization and planning, problem-solving, and memory have been found to have significant relationships with the ability to utilize a PMD for functional mobility. While the evidence is limited to what cognitive abilities are necessary for powered mobility independence, multiple cognitive outcomes have been found to be predictive of or associated with PMD use. 1 Cognitive Skills for Driving a PMDĭriving a PMD device is a complex task. 1,2 Despite cognition being a significant concern for therapists, subjective clinical judgment is often the primary tool for determining whether an individual has the necessary cognitive functions for using a PMD safely and independently. Evidence suggests that cognitive functioning is one of the top concerns when evaluating someone for a PMD. However, some individuals may be overlooked when it comes to PMD evaluations due to cognitive impairments.įor example, healthcare providers, including occupational and physical therapists, may perceive individuals with cognitive impairments as unsafe and unable to use a PMD, dismissing the idea or an appropriate referral for further consideration of PMD use. Powered mobility devices (PMD), such as power wheelchairs and scooters, can provide independence that may not be otherwise possible for many individuals. Powered mobility can promote independence with daily activities, social engagement, and community participation and improve the quality of life for individuals with mobility limitations. Rider, PhD, MS, OTR/L, MSCS & Kaila Patterson, OTD-S
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |