Take the Test

1. Which statement is true regarding falls among older adults?

• a. The risk of falling does not increase with age.
• b. Falls rarely lead to long-term disability.
• c. Consistent safety guidelines may help reduce falls in facility-based settings.
• d. An older adult who has fallen once is less likely to fall again.

2. Which structure of the inner ear detects rotational movement?

• a. Auricle
• b. Tympanic membrane
• c. Canaliths
• d. Semicircular canals

3. Which condition is the most common cause of vertigo?

• a. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
• b. Mal de débarquement syndrome
• c. Ototoxicity
• d. Autoimmune ear disease

4. Which statement is true regarding an interdisciplinary team approach to fall prevention and management?

• a. Usually only one clinical discipline is required to effectively manage a patient at risk of falling.
• b. There is never any overlap between disciplines when working with patients at risk of falling.
• c. Vestibular rehabilitation may be provided by either specially trained physical therapists or occupational therapists.
• d. When working with patients at risk of falling, physical therapists primarily focus on activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, and meal preparation.

5. Which factor is an example of an intrinsic risk for falling?

• a. An icy parking lot in front of a grocery store
• b. Multiple burned-out lightbulbs in a stairwell
• c. Being employed as a roofer
• d. Postural hypotension

6. Which tool assesses an individual’s dynamic balance when stepping over objects forward, backward, and sideways?

• a. Function Independence Measure (FIM)
• b. Four Square Step Test (FSST)
• c. Berg Balance Scale (BBS)
• d. Falls Risk Assessment Tool (FRAT)

7. Which tool is a home safety assessment that can be administered by a patient and/or their family?

• a. I-HOPE
• b. Home Safety Self-Assessment Tool (HSSAT)
• c. Safe at Home Checklist
• d. SAFER-HOME

8. Which strategy is least effective for minimizing the risk of accidental falls?

• a. Keeping patient rooms free of clutter
• b. Leaving wheelchair brakes unlocked when the chair is parked beside patient’s bed
• c. Using nightlights or other supplemental lighting
• d. Ensuring the patient wears well-fitting, nonskid footwear

9. Which intervention is least likely to treat specific gait deviations?

• a. Selective neuromuscular re-education
• b. Evaluation for orthotic, splinting, or assistive device needs
• c. Specific pre-gait training activities
• d. Home safety evaluation

10. Which statement is least likely to support successful vestibular rehabilitation?

• a. Many people with vestibular dysfunction may self-limit their physical activities to avoid eliciting symptoms.
• b. Virtual reality may be used in both balance training and habituation exercises.
• c. Gaze stability exercises may focus on promoting both adaptation and substitution.
• d. Endurance training alone is an effective form of vestibular rehabilitation.

11. Which intervention for BPPV may be taught to a patient to perform at home?

• a. Dix-Hallpike test
• b. Semont-Liberatory maneuver
• c. Brandt-Daroff exercises
• d. BBQ roll

12. Which action is least likely to reduce fall risk in the home environment?

• a. Installing a nonslip mat and a grab bar in the shower to help get in and out safely
• b. Placing throw rugs over hard floors in order to cushion any potential falls
• c. Minimizing clutter to reduce trip hazards
• d. Keeping frequently used kitchen items in easy-to-reach cabinets or shelves