Ideomotor apraxia (IMA) is characterized by which symptom?

• A. Inability to imitate hand gestures and voluntarily mime tool use
• B. Inability to plan movements in response to external cues
• C. Loss of language comprehension
• D. Severe apraxia of speech

Answer: (A)

The symptom pattern tested is the ability to perform actions on cue or imitate movements. Ideomotor apraxia presents as an inability to imitate hand gestures and to voluntarily mime the use of tools, even though basic motor strength and comprehension are intact. In other words, the person understands what to do and can move, but when asked to imitate a gesture or demonstrate how to use a tool, the intended movement cannot be produced correctly. Often, automatic or spontaneous actions may be better preserved, but purposeful imitation on command is impaired. This helps distinguish ideomotor apraxia from ideational apraxia (which involves difficulties conceptualizing and sequencing tool use), aphasia (language impairment), or apraxia of speech (speech motor planning disorder).