Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I hire an occupational therapist to perform a Functional Capacity Evaluation or Cost of Future Care Evaluation?

Occupational therapists are experts at assessing an individual’s level of functioning in carrying out everyday life activities (occupations). Assessment by an occupational therapist involves determining an individual’s activity limitations and participation restrictions in the areas of self-care, work, and leisure. Through the use of formal interviewing, performance-based testing, observational analysis, and application of clinical reasoning skills, occupational therapists determine what factors (e.g. physical, cognitive, psychosocial, sensory, and environmental influences) are impeding a client’s optimal level of functioning.

For an individual who has sustained a brain injury, do I need an FCE if they have already been assessed by a neuropsychologist?

Information obtained from an FCE is different than information obtained from a neuropsychological assessment.

During administration of the FCE assessment battery specifically designed for individuals who have sustained brain injury, the client is engaged in a number of testing activities that require a wide range of physical and cognitive demands, as well as generic work and daily living skills. The occupational therapy assessment focuses on task performance, rather than discrete cognitive impairments.

The FCE yields information to assist with determining an individual’s abilities and activity limitations in the personal, home, work, and/or community domains.

Do I need a Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) if a Vocational Assessment has been conducted?

In contrast to relying on a client’s subjective reports of function, an FCE objectively identifies an individual’s functional tolerances related to work and daily activity. An FCE provides specific tolerance information regarding an individual’s sitting, standing, walking, body mobility, strength capacity, work endurance, and practical cognitive function.

Vocational consultants often rely on conclusions from an FCE to assist with determining specific job options for the client. Information on functional tolerances combined with assessment of the client’s educational and work background and aptitude and interest testing, allows the vocational consultant to determine an individual’s pre-accident versus post-accident earning capacity.