Sensory Flashcards
What is sensory perception?
Sensory perception is facilitated by the reticular activating system (RAS). RAS is a network of neurons located in the brain stem.
- Sensory perception = use senses to gather info about env.
- Perception = how the brain processes that info.
Newborn/ Infant
touch is primary sense
Toddler/ preschooler
use all 5 senses, lack of stimulation —> developmental delay
Child/ adolescent
use senses for safety (crosswalks, smelling smoke)
Adult/ older adult
sensory function decreases with age – early detection of this change is imperative to prevent injuries (ex falls)
Alarm Fatigue
sensory adaptation (when people get used to alarms and noises and delay going to patient rooms)
Factors impacting senses:
Alcohol – neuropathy (touch) Smoking – taste Cocaine – smell DM – neuropathy + retinopathy (vision) Meds – sedatives decrease all senses, hearing loss
Manifestations of Sensory overload?
Insomnia, anxiety, restlessness, decreased ability to concentrate
In hospital: room near nurses station, treatment equipment, roommate, pain, many visitors (hospital staff)
Manifestations of sensory deprivation?
-Confusion, depression, delirium, hallucinations —>think the brain is stimulated less, so it decreases in function
- Hospital: Bed rest, isolation, few visitors, no access to sensory assistive devices (hearing aids, glasses)
Someone with impaired hearing and vision without their assisted devices who is on reverse isolation precautions
Factors affecting patient education
Cognitive dysfunction – impairment in logical thinking or reasoning
Hallucination – altered senses
Delusions – altered thoughts
Focus: safety, educate caregiver
Sensory Questions
How do you spend a typical day?
Work? School? Read? Speak with family/ friends?
Have there been recent changes in your life?
Job change, Death, Are you adjusting to change?
What are your living arrangements like?
What are your interests and habits?
Drugs, food, sleep, exercise, hobbies
Assessment of sensory fxns
Vision: Snellen chart or read something
Hearing: whisper numbers in 1 ear while closing the other, Weber and Rinne tuning fork tests, observe client in conversation
Taste: have client close eyes and identify tastes
Smell: close eyes and identify smells on nostril at a time
Somatic sensation: cotton tip, wood end, hot/cold, stereognosis etc. – think neurological assessment techniques
Sensation information
a technique nurses can use to decrease sensory overload from unknowns in hospital – instruct client step by step what they will feel/experience
Helping visually impaired person ambulate:
- stand on non-dominant side
- have client hold your arm with non-dominant hand
- have dominant hand FREE to test environment
- environment should be uncluttered
Sensory Aids
- Vision: glasses, large print, color-coding
- Hearing: hearing aid, speak facing the patient, amplify home sounds like a doorbell
- Smell: fresh food, minimize noxious stimuli
- Taste: reg timing of meals, proper temp of foods, fresh foods
- Touch: hair brushing, turning, massage, clothing
