44 Sensory Functioning Flashcards
2 parts of Sensory Experience
1 sensory RECEPTION
2 sensory PERCEPTION
Sensory Reception
process of receiving data fr external or internal environment thru senses
Sensory Perception
conscious process of selecting, organizing, + interpreting data fr senses into meaningful info
4 Unconscious states of arousal
1 Asleep
2 Stupor
3 Coma
4 Vegetative State
Asleep
can be aroused by normal stimuli (ex touch or sound)
Stupor
can be aroused by extreme/repeated stimuli
Coma
CANNOT be aroused
- does NOT respond to stimuli
- –can be further subdivided according to effect on REFLEX responses to stimuli (Glasgow)
Vegetative State
CANNOT be aroused
-has sleep-wake cycles, postures/withdraw fr noxious stimuli, occasional non-purposeful mvmt, random smiling/grimacing
7 Conscious states of arousal
1 Normal Consciousness 2 Delirium 3 Dementia 4 Confusion 5 Somnolence 6 Minimally Conscious States 7 Locked-in Syndrome
Normal Consciousness
aware of self + external environment
-well-oriented + responsive
Delirium
disorientation, restlessness, confusion, hallucinations, agitation, alternating w other consciousness
Dementia
difficulties w spatial orientation, memory, language
-changes in personality
Confusion
reduced awareness, easily distracted, easily startled by stimuli
- alternates bw drowsiness + excitability
- resembles minor form of delirium state
Somnolence
extreme drowsiness but will respond to normal stimuli
Minimally Conscious States
part consciousness
- sleep-wake cycle present
- some motor function including automatic mvmt
- inconsistently follows commands
Locked-in Syndrome
full consciousness
- sleep-wake cycle present
- quadriplegic
- auditory + visual function preserved
- emotion preserved
Sensory Overload
when a person experiences so much stimuli that the brain is unable to respond meaningfully or ignore the stimuli
-feels out of control
Sensory Overload
cognitive responses
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
Sensory Deprivation
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
Sensory Deprivation
cognitive responses
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
Sensory Deficit
impaired or absent functioning of 1 or more senses
-like impaired sight, hearing, numbness, paralysis
-may be reversible or permanent
Sensory Poverty
a condition that results when one learns about the world without experiencing it up close, right here, right now
Communicating w an Unconscious Patient
- 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
