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Contact
Mr. Jerry Wright
Director, Research Administration
Santa Clara Valley Medical Center

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Citation
Wright, J. (2000). The Functional Assessment Measure. The Center for Outcome Measurement in Brain Injury. http://www.tbims.org/
combi/FAM ( accessed ).*

*Note: This citation is for the COMBI web material. Mr. Wright is not the scale author for the FAM.

 

 

 

 

 

FAM Training Answers

SWALLOWING

Debra, after having her trach removed, needed to swallow several times even for her morning oatmeal.
NO PHYSICAL HELP = 6 OR 7
SEVERAL SWALLOWS = 6
SCORE 6

Barbara eats way too fast and often chokes. She needs minimal assistance to remind her to slow down.
NEEDS HELP = 1-5
DOES > 50% = 3-5
SPEED MONITORING = 4
SCORE 4

Margaret can now eat pudding and applesauce but most of her calories are from her NG tube feedings.
NEEDS HELP = 1-5
<50% = 1 or 2
NOT TOTALLY NPO = 2
SCORE 2

CAR TRANSFERS

Bert transfers himself into the car despite the fact that he always comes close to falling out as he lifts the wheelchair into the car.
INDEPENDENT = 6-7
SAFETY CONCERN = 6
SCORE 6

Bettie can transfer into the drivers seat, but needs only some assistance getting the wheelchair in behind her, but can unload it.
NEEDS HELP = 1-5
DOES > 50% = 3-5
NEEDS OCCASIONAL HELP = 4
SCORE 4

Beatrice can only open the car door and break down part of her wheelchair. Then her son transfers her into the car and loads her wheelchair.
NEEDS HELP = 1-5
DOES < 50% = 1 or 2
NOT TOTALLY DEP = 2
SCORE 2


COMMUNITY ACCESS

Gerard takes the bus to school each day. It took him some phone calls to get the correct route and figure out all the connections. He also bought a monthly pass to avoid getting change out each trip.
NO HELP = 6 or 7
NO ADAPTIVE DEVICES,
REST PERIODS,
OR SAFETY CONCERNS = 7
SCORE 7

Joey needs his mom to supervise each new trip he takes.
HELP = 1-5
PROVIDES > 50% = 3-5
NEEDS SUPERVISION ONLY = 5
SCORE 5

Lisa says she is independent, but in reality requires total assistance from her brother.
IN REALITY NEEDS HELP = 1-5
DOES < 50% = 1 or 2
TOTAL ASSIST = 1
SCORE 1


EADING

My father needs help reading the business section, although he is fine with the front page headlines and the captions under the photos.
HELP WITH PARAGRAPHS = 1-5
OK WITH WORDS/PICTURES = 3-5
SHORT SIMPLE SENTENCES = 5
SCORE 5

After my nephew's accident he was no longer able to recognize initials and letters etc., but he can play picture concentration.
HELP = 1-5
NO WORDS/PICTURES = 1-2
CONSISTENTLY MATCH = 2
SCORE 2

Once my father could recognize the short notes and signature of his grandchildren on the get well cards my mother was relieved.
HELP WITH PARAGRAPHS = 1-5
OK WITH WORDS/PICTURES = 3-5
OK WITH SINGLE WORDS = 4
SCORE 4


WRITING

Even with a large felt tip marker, Serge is unable to even trace over the therapists letters.
NEEDS HELP = 1-5
WRITE WORDS, NO = 1-2
UNABLE TO TRACE = 1 SCORE 1

Although Jose cannot move his left side he has been using his right hand on the computer and composing some remarkable poetry and short stories without errors.
NO HELP = 6-7
NO ERRORS = 7
SCORE 7

Reynaldo writes familiar words and although he says he can read what he writes, no one else can get past his name.
NEEDS HELP = 1-5
WRITES FAMILIAR WORDS = 3-5
SIMPLE WORDS WITH LEGIBILITY, NO = 3
SCORE 3


SPEECH INTELLIGIBILITY

Guadalupe has to be cued to slow down her Spanish and then the interpreter and her family can understand her.
NEEDS HELP = 1-5
CAN PRODUCE SENTENCES = 5
SCORE 5

We can only gather some type of mumbling from our daughter that conveys her fear or happiness.
COMPENSATORY STRATEGIES = 1-5
UNINTELLIGIBLE SINGLE SYLLABLE WORDS = 1-2
NO INTELLIGIBLE SPEECH = 1
SCORE 1

Maria automatically engages in normal conversation, and is usually clear and easy to understand.
NO COMPENSATORY STRATEGIES = 6-7
USUALLY CLEAR = 6
SCORE 6


EMOTIONAL STATUS

Roger is devastated by his new SCI, so much that he has not spoken or eaten for a week.
PROBLEMS = 1-5
ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY, NO = 1-2
CONTINUALLY INTERFERE = 1
SCORE 1

Two to three times a month Paul is unusually solemn and introspective and asks for more assistance on these days.
PROBLEMS = 1-5
ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY, YES = 3-5
LESS OFTEN THAN WEEKLY = 5
SCORE 5

Tina is understandably depressed since her car accident. She gets frustrated and anxious about new situations, and approximately once per week this interferes with her rehabilitation. She is learning to discuss this with her family.
PROBLEMS = 1-5
ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY = 3-5
WEEKLY = 4
SCORE 4


ADJUSTMENT TO LIMITATIONS

Randall is having no trouble getting used to life in a wheelchair, but he says a cure is coming soon and he will be out of his chair.
LIMITATIONS INTERFERING, NO = 6-7
UNREAL EXPECTATIONS = 6
SCORE 6

Leanne can do over half her ADLs, but needs coaxing and encouragement from her therapist to get through each task.
HELPER = 1-5
COPING > 50% = 3-5
25% OR LESS = 3
SCORE 3

Elliot has alot of movement in his legs and doesn't understand why he cannot just get up and walk out of the hospital and go home. This is a constant problem.
DIFFICULTY = 1-5
COPING < 50% = 1-2
NO AWARENESS = 1
SCORE 1


EMPLOYABILITY

Betty can only do straight forward simple repetitive tasks after much assistance.
NEEDS HELP = 1-5
FUNCTION EFFECTIVELY, NO = 1-2
ABLE TO COMPLETE SIMPLE = 2
SCORE 2

Julianna needs some special training and assistance, but not all of the time.
NEEDS HELP = 1-5
FUNCTION WITH ASSIST = 3-5
ASSIST, BUT NOT ALL THE TIME = 4
SCORE 4

Bobby needs several different adaptive/assistive devices, but loves that this enables him to work.
NO PHYSICAL HELP = 6-7
NEED ASSISTIVE DEVICE = 6
SCORE 6


ORIENTATION

Frederick takes a few seconds to orient when in a new situation.
NO HELP = 6-7
EXTRA TIME = 6
SCORE 6

Ralph is oriented to the day, date, time and place, but needs cues to answer correctly.
NEEDS HELP =1-5
ORIENTED WITH CUES = 5
SCORE 5

For the first 3 weeks of Ryan's semi-comatose state, his mom tried to orient him each day to the month, day, date and place.
NEEDS HELP = 1-5
NOT ORIENTED TO 2/4 = 1-2
TOTALLY RELIANT = 1
SCORE 1


ATTENTION

Darlene can only knit for 10 minutes then can no longer concentrate on the stitches.
TROUBLE WITH 1 HR. = 1-5
> 5 MIN. = 3-5
< 15 MIN. = 3
SCORE 3

Woodworking has always been one of Dan's hobbies, but after his injury he can only work for 15 minutes and still needs some redirection during that short time.
TROUBLE WITH 1 HR. = 1-5
>5 MIN. = 3-5
15 MIN WITH CUES = 4
SCORE 4

Roland can be well on his way towards completing an extensive work project, but if the phone rings he has a tough time getting back on track.
NO TROUBLE WITH 1 HR. = 6-7
DISTRACTION DELAY = 6
SCORE 6


SAFETY JUDGEMENT

Frank does well in a structured therapy session but is not safe to be left alone otherwise.
NEEDS HELP = 1-5
SAFE WITH STRUCTURE = 3-5
NOT ALONE = 4
SCORE 4

After being home 6 months, Rod's wife finally feels comfortable leaving him alone so she can go shopping for a few hours.
NEEDS HELP IN COMM. = 1-5
SAFE WITH STRUCTURE = 3-5
HOME ALONE = 5
SCORE 5

Bertha only needs a peer's verbal comments when wheeling around the new construction.
NO HELP IN COMMUNITY = 6-7
SUPERVISION WITH NEW ACTIVITIES = 6
SCORE 6


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