Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN) Practice Exam

Which compensation strategy can help a patient with a figure-ground deficit?

1. Use partitions and dividers to separate items

2. Verbally label familiar objects

3. Assist in practicing copying diagrams

4. Label items using brightly colored tape

The correct answer is: Use partitions and dividers to separate items

The most effective compensation strategy for addressing a figure-ground deficit is the use of partitions and dividers to separate items. This approach helps the patient better discern between objects and their backgrounds, which is particularly challenging for individuals with this type of deficit. By organizing the environment with clear divisions, it reduces visual clutter, making it easier for the individual to focus on specific items without becoming overwhelmed by the surrounding environment. Visual separation encourages better spatial awareness and enhances the ability to recognize and interact with distinct objects. This strategy is rooted in enhancing the physical space the patient interacts with, thereby effectively aiding their perception. Other strategies, while beneficial in different contexts, do not directly address the sensory processing challenge posed by figure-ground deficits in the same way. For example, verbally labeling familiar objects and assisting in practicing copying diagrams are helpful for cognitive or memory-related issues, rather than for improving visual discrimination. Using brightly colored tape to label items could enhance visibility but may not provide the spatial organization that partitions and dividers can deliver.