44 Sensory Functioning

Question 1

2 parts of Sensory Experience

Answer 1

1 sensory RECEPTION

2 sensory PERCEPTION

Question 2

Sensory Reception

Answer 2

process of receiving data fr external or internal environment thru senses

Question 3

Sensory Perception

Answer 3

conscious process of selecting, organizing, + interpreting data fr senses into meaningful info

Question 4

4 Unconscious states of arousal

Answer 4

1 Asleep
2 Stupor
3 Coma
4 Vegetative State

Question 5

Asleep

Answer 5

can be aroused by normal stimuli (ex touch or sound)

Question 6

Stupor

Answer 6

can be aroused by extreme/repeated stimuli

Question 7

Coma

Answer 7

CANNOT be aroused

• does NOT respond to stimuli
• –can be further subdivided according to effect on REFLEX responses to stimuli (Glasgow)

Question 8

Vegetative State

Answer 8

CANNOT be aroused

-has sleep-wake cycles, postures/withdraw fr noxious stimuli, occasional non-purposeful mvmt, random smiling/grimacing

Question 9

7 Conscious states of arousal

Answer 9

1 Normal Consciousness
2 Delirium
3 Dementia
4 Confusion
5 Somnolence
6 Minimally Conscious States
7 Locked-in Syndrome

Question 10

Normal Consciousness

Answer 10

aware of self + external environment

-well-oriented + responsive

Question 11

Delirium

Answer 11

disorientation, restlessness, confusion, hallucinations, agitation, alternating w other consciousness

Question 12

Dementia

Answer 12

difficulties w spatial orientation, memory, language

-changes in personality

Question 13

Confusion

Answer 13

reduced awareness, easily distracted, easily startled by stimuli

• alternates bw drowsiness + excitability
• resembles minor form of delirium state

Question 14

Somnolence

Answer 14

extreme drowsiness but will respond to normal stimuli

Question 15

Minimally Conscious States

Answer 15

part consciousness

• sleep-wake cycle present
• some motor function including automatic mvmt
• inconsistently follows commands

Question 16

Locked-in Syndrome

Answer 16

full consciousness

• sleep-wake cycle present
• quadriplegic
• auditory + visual function preserved
• emotion preserved

Question 17

Sensory Overload

Answer 17

when a person experiences so much stimuli that the brain is unable to respond meaningfully or ignore the stimuli
-feels out of control

Question 18

Sensory Overload

cognitive responses

Answer 18

inability to control the direction of thought content

older patients + stroke patients: confusion + agitation

younger patients: seek comfort of parent’s embrace to block out sensory overload

Question 19

Sensory Deprivation

Answer 19

when a person experiences DECREASED sensory input or monotonous, unpatterned, meaningless input

at high risk for of hallucination to maintain optimal level of RAS arousal

Question 20

Sensory Deprivation

cognitive responses

Answer 20

inability to control the direction of thought content

• decr attention span, problm solv, task performance,
• inability to concentrate
• crying, incr irritability, annoyance, confusion, panic, depression

Question 21

Sensory Deficit

Answer 21

impaired or absent functioning of 1 or more senses
-like impaired sight, hearing, numbness, paralysis

-may be reversible or permanent

Question 22

Sensory Poverty

Answer 22

a condition that results when one learns about the world without experiencing it up close, right here, right now

Question 23

Communicating w an Unconscious Patient

Answer 23

• careful w what u say; hearing is the last sense lost
• assume they can still hear u
• speak before touching
• keep environmental noise as low a level as possible; helps patient focus on communication