Occupational Therapy

This is a continuation of reflections on Week 5 of my clinical placement in an acute hospital.
For the first time, I saw how external ventricular drainage (EVD) was carried out. No, not the drilling of hole on the skull. However, it just a sight on a client in the drainage process itself by the bedside. What [...]

Specific areas to look out for:

Long term and short term memory
Receptive or expressive aphasia
Hearing loss?
Object perception and recognition

What to look out for:

Strength and AROM of UL and LL (others: neglect, subluxation, tone of muscles, sensation)
Strength of truncal muscles (extensors and flexors) -> static and dynamic sitting balance
If substantis nigra of basal ganglia is affected, we may infer that dopamine level changed too. Hence, we also look out for muscle rigidity, tremor, a [...]

What to look out for:

Strength and AROM of UL and LL (others: neglect, subluxation, tone of muscles, sensation - touch awareness, propriception, kinesthesia)
Apraxia in functional tasks
Hemianopia
Spatial relations and orientation of objects
Long term and short term memory (If memory loss present, PTA scale can be used)
Aphasia
Acalculia

What to look out for:

Strength and AROM of UL and LL (others: neglect, subluxation, tone of muscles, sensation)
Orientation to time, place and person
Attention
Problem solving eg. 10 minus 5
If the client is able to ambulate, walk him to the nearest wash basin or toilet. Look out for judgement and safety awareness.
Any change in personality?
Impulsivity?
Inappropriate social behaviours?