Research Project Detail
The relationship between performance on tests of apraxia and the performance of natural actions
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Dr. Eric Roy, University of Waterloo
RESEARCH PROGRAM AFFILIATION: Functional Abilities Program
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
The ability to perform actions is often tested in the laboratory under tightly controlled conditions. It is however unknown how performance on these tests reflects people's ability to perform every day actions like making a sandwich. The tasks used in the laboratory are not always similar to every day actions, and our ability to use these tests to evaluation residents' performance outside the laboratory may be limited. This study will therefore look at people's performance on tests of apraxia and tests of everyday actions to evaluate their usefulness in predicting the ability to perform actions.
PRACTICAL IMPLICATION
It is important to be able to assess the degree of functional independence when performing an activity of daily living. By better understanding the tests for apraxia in the context of healthy older adults, the results of this study will be able to determine whether or not these assessments should be used to determine the degree of impairment in activities of daily living.
On a broader level, using tests that have been developed specifically to identify the type of and severity of apraxia for purposes other than strictly diagnosing apraxia, the research team will gain insight into the praxis system in an aging population.
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