Acquired Brain Injury - Perceptual Disorders and Disorders of Consciousness Flashcards
Aphasia - Definition and Divisions
Impairment of language, affecting verbal communication, due to impairment in production or understanding of speech, writing and reading.
100% cognitive deficit.
- Aphasia with impaired production (Borca, difficulty finding words)
- Aphasia with impaired comprehension (Wernicke, difficulty understanding)
- Global and transcranial aphasia with global impairment
Aphasia Symptoms Related to Language Production (4)
Word substitution
Sound switch (not realizing you are not making the correct sound)
Sentence coherence
Neologism (using a word that doesn’t exist and substituting it for another)
Aphasia Symptoms Related to Language Comprehension
Misinterpretation of figurative and literal expression.
Logorrhea (vomiting words that don’t make sense, can’t stop talking)
Aphasia Symptoms Related to Writing and Reading
Spelling difficulties
Dyscalculia (difficulty doing math)
Unilateral Spatial Neglect (UNS) - Definition, Most commonly seen in?
Behavioral disorder where sensory input from the compromised body region cannot be transmitted to S1, due to thalamic and parieto-temporal lesion. To the patient, the compromised body area does not exist!
Mostly after ischemic stroke of MCA on the right side.
Unilateral Spatial Neglect (UNS) - Symptoms
Anosognosia (self awareness deficit)
Spatial reasoning deficit
Time reasoning deficit (do not understand that 5 minutes are 5 minutes, think its enough time to shower, eat and get across town)
Pusher Syndrome - Definition
Sub symptom of a neglect patient.
Actively pushes the whole body with non-compromised side in all directions. Increasing the strength when stopped and not realizing it affects balance.
Extinction Phenomena - Definition
Sub symptom of neglect patients.
Unable to perceive inputs coming from the former affected side, when both sides are simultaneously stimulated. Affected side erased.
Precautions and Red Flags: Perceptual Disorders (5)
Loss of balance in neglect.
Injuries on affected side related to WCh-positioning.
Loss of mobility on affected upper limb related to positioning and non-use.
Use of equipment that could lead to harm.
Confronting patient with a traumatic situation and/or symptomology, that they are not aware of.
Consciousness - Definition and Divisions (5)
Interaction between awareness of environment and wakefulness, the reaction of sensory inputs from this environment.
- Brain death
- Coma
- Unresponsive wakefulness syndrome
- Minimal Consciousness State
- Awake and aware
Brain Death - Definition (3)
Irreversible loss of all brainstem reflexes combined with progressive loss of cortical and respiratory functions in a patient in a persistent state of DOC.
- Known reason for DOC
- Repeated evaluation, every 6h
- No electrical activity in areas associated with internal thought and diminished cortical irrigation.
Coma - Definition and characteristics (4)
Between 1h - 5 weeks, before it develops to another state of DOC.
Non-reactive state where patient can’t be woken up.
- Absence of sleep wake cycle
- Absence of verbal communication
- Absence of reaction on command
- Diminished respiratory and thermo-regulatory functions (not able to maintain)
Unresponsive Wakefulness Syndrome - Characteristics (6)
As soon as eye opening is observed.
Vegetative state.
Thalamus and cortex still damaged.
Have sleep-wake cycles!
No awareness of environment.
Autonomic functions and brainstem reflexes mostly present.
Unresponsive Wakefulness Syndrome - Divisions (2)
Persistent state: over 1 month. Little likelihood of recovery.
Permanent state: over 3 months. Minimal likelihood of recovery.
Minimal Consciousness Sate - Characteristics (4)
Inconsistent signs of awareness.
Might sometimes be able to communicate.
Emotional state observed (smiling, crying)
Temporary or permanent.
