Background Information

 

The A-ONE, an occupational therapy instrument, is based on a conceptual background where a direct link is made between functional performance in ADL and neurobehavior. The A-ONE is used to detect the impact of neurobehavioral impairments in adults with cortical central nervous system dysfunction on ADL performance by using observations.

 

The A-ONE was designed to integrate two methods used by occupational therapists:

 

(1) Functional assessment of ADL performance and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2) Assessment of specific cognitive, perceptual and motor impairments impacting upon the

       performance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Traditionally ADL evaluations had only been used to indicate level of independence /need for assistance, not the reason for the lack of independence as is possible by use of the A-ONE in terms of neurobehavior. The A-ONE is thus used to assist the therapist in analyzing the nature or cause of a problem that requires occupational therapy intervention.

 

Purpose

 

The original purpose of developing the A-ONE was to create a valid and reliable instrument to evaluate simultaneously ADL performance and neurobehavioral impairments affecting performance. It was expected that the evaluation would aid therapists in clinical reasoning and decision making and it was hoped that the results could aid in goal setting and choice of intervention.

 

Occupational therapists report that they use the A-ONE as it provides profession specific information about task performance and type of limitations. Such information has been appreciated by other team members. The evaluation is used to obtain useful information for decision making and for setting goals. It can also be used to aid therapists in choosing from available intervention methods.

 

 

 

 

Analyses used when administering and scoring the A-ONE:

 

Performance analysis is used in the A-ONE to gather information on observed performance and to detect performance errors indicating deviations in performance quality.

 

Task analysis is used in the A-ONE to determine the nature of the problems that have impact on the performance, i.e. type of impairments or environmental limitations. Thus it refers to the use of specific clinical reasoning procedures for the interpretation of the cause of the diminished quality of task performance.

 

 

Scales

 

The A-ONE consists of two ordinal rating scales:

 

• The Functional Independence (FI) scale focusing on ADL performance. The 22 items of the five category rating scale are classified into five domains (dressing; grooming and hygiene; transfers and mobility; feeding; functional communication).

 

• The Neurobehavioral Impairment (NB) scale focusing on type of impairment and severity of impact on ADL performance. It consists of 77 items divided between two subscales - a five category rating scale for specific impairment items and a dichotomous scale with pervasive impairment items. For scoring the NB scale, performance errors are related to operational definitions from the test manual. Subsequently specific clinical reasoning process is used to hypothesize about the type(s) of impairment(s) impacting on and limiting the performance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Neurobehaviour:

 

Neurobehavior is defined in the A-ONE as any behavior reflecting neurological function. It thus includes the different types of pertinent neurological body functions necessary for performing different tasks. What may seem a simple task requires complex functioning of multiple nervous system processes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Occupational Performance Errors:

 

Neurological dysfunction can result in impairments manifested in occupational performance errors. These are defined in the A-ONE as: Any deviations from flawless responses when performing occupation. The deviations could include that the task has changed or is not completed, the person needs assistance with performance or the person can successfully complete the task but errors or alterations in methods are seen. A-ONE reasoning is therefore about how occupational performance errors, reflecting CNS dysfunction that cannot be observed directly, can be related to taxonomy of impairments.

 

After detection of observed performance errors, or critical cues, A-ONE reasoning includes amongst other things use of conceptual and operational definitons from the insturment for cue interpretation and formation of impairment hypothesis. Neurological knowledge is also used for differentiation between possible impairment hypotheses before coming to a conclusion about the nature of problems that impact upon performance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Important aspects of reasoning:

 

Neurological Occupational Analysis abbreviated as NOA is based on the A-ONE conceptual model. For the survival of in-depth clinical reasoning needed in neurological occupational therapy “one pair” of each  “species“ is needed. The species being body structures and functions, activity and participation as well as environmental and personal factors (referring to ICF terminology). If we have all three pairs on board our “ark” referring to Noah‘s ark and relating it to Neurological Occupational Analysis (NOA), we are set for survival and able to back up what occupational therapists stand for.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A-ONE Reasoning

Does not continue the activity

Does not attend to instruction

Does not attend to mistakes

 

 

INATTENTION

Becomes distracted from putting on shirt when notices a light switch on the wall

 

DISTRACTIBILITY

Loss of a visual hemifield, but is aware of the deficit and will try to compensate for it by using head movements to scan both visual fields

HOMONYMOUS HEMIANOPSIA

Sequences activity steps incorrectly during dressing so that there are errors in the end results of the task

 

IDEATIONAL APRAXIA

Has difficulties sequencing movements that are necessary to adjust the grasp on the shirt for pulling

 

MOTOR APRAXIA

Has difficulties dressing and buttoning due to a paralyzed arm resulting in use of a one-handed dressing method

 

MOTOR WEAKNESS

Does not remember the instructions throughout the ADL tasks

 

SHORT TERM MEMORY LOSS

Has difficulties manipulating shirt due to lack of sensation

Is aware of the sensory loss and tries to compensate for it by using visual cues

 

SOMESTHETIC SENSORY LOSS

Unable to find armholes or bottom of shirt

Pulls sleeves in the wrong direction

Over or underestimates the distances when placing paralyzed arm into sleeve

 

SPATIAL RELATIONS IMPAIRMENT

Does not account for objects in the visual field on the affected side, usually the left one

 

UNILATERAL SPATIAL NEGLECT

Does not dress the affected body side

Does not pull the shirt all the way down on the affected side

The shirt gets stuck on the affected shoulder without the person's trying to correct or realizing what is wrong

 

UNILATERAL BODY NEGLECT

A-ONE

 

Functional Independence Scale: Feeding Domain

 

 

 

Neurobehavioural Specific Impairment Subscale: Feeding Domain