Sensory Functioning

Question 1

Stereognosis

Answer 1

perception of solidity of objects

Question 2

Proprioception

Answer 2

a sense at a subconscious level with regards to movement of the body

Question 3

Levels of Unconsciousness

Answer 3

• asleep
• stupor
• coma
• vegetative state

Question 4

Levels of Consciousness

Answer 4

• locked in syndrome
• dementia/confusion
• somnolence
• delirium
• normal

Question 5

Sensory perception

Answer 5

conscious process of selecting, organizing, and interpreting data from the senses into meaningful data

Question 6

Sensory reception

Answer 6

• process of receiving data about the internal or external environment through senses

Question 7

Stupor

Answer 7

can be aroused by repeated and/or extreme stimuli

Question 8

Coma

Answer 8

cannot be aroused and does not respond to stimuli

Question 9

Vegetative state

Answer 9

cannot be aroused.
- sleep wake cycles, withdraws to noxious stimuli, occasional nonpurposeful movement, random smiling or grimacing

Question 10

Somnolence

Answer 10

• extreme drowsiness but will respond normally to stimuli

Question 11

Sensory deprivation signs and symptoms

Answer 11

• drowsiness, excessive yawning
• hallucinations/illusions
• decreased attention span, inability to focus
• crying, panic, depression

Question 12

Sensory overload

Answer 12

excessive stimuli over which a person feels little control, the brain is unable to meaningfully respond to or ignore stimuli
- bright lights, frequent examinations, monotonous noises

Question 13

Sensory deficit

Answer 13

• impaired or absent functioning in one or more senses
• impaired sight/hearing, numbness, paralysis

Question 14

Factors affecting sensory stimulation

Answer 14

• developmental considerations
• culture
• personality/lifestyle
• stress and illness
• medications

Question 15

Caring for visually impaired patients

Answer 15

• acknowledge your presence in the room, introduce yourself
• speak in a normal tone of voice
• explain reason for touching pt BEFORE touching them
• keep call light close
• clear pathways
• assist with ambulation
• indicate when leaving room
• orient pt to sounds/furniture in room

Question 16

Caring for hearing impaired patients

Answer 16

• decrease background noise
• check hearing aids
• position yourself so your face is in light
• talk directly to pt, clear and concise sentences
• sign or pantomime
• write anything you cannot convey

Question 17

Communicating with confused patients

Answer 17

• frequent face to face contact
• speak calmly, simply, and directly to pt
• orient and reorient pt to environment
• orient to time, place, person
• offer explanations for care
• emphasize pts strengths rather than weaknesses
• use objects from pts past
• reinforce reality if pt is delusional

Question 18

Communicating with unconscious patients

Answer 18

• assume they can hear you
• speak in normal tone of voice
• speak to the pt before touching them
• keep environmental noises low

Question 19

Glaucoma

Answer 19

• increased IOP causing atrophy and cupping of the optic nerve head
• visual deficits can progress to blindness
• loss of peripheral vision, intolerance to glare, ⬇️ perception of contrast and night vision

Question 20

Cataracts

Answer 20

• clouding of lens causing painless, progressive loss of vision

Question 21

Macular degeneration

Answer 21

• most common cause of legal blindness in older adults
• development of drusen deposits causing central vision loss
• risk factors: smoking, excessive sunlight exposure

Question 22

Presbyopia

Answer 22

• loss of elasticity in the lens leading to decreased ability to change shape of lens to focus on near objects (fine print)

Question 23

Presbycusis

Answer 23

• loss of high- frequency, sensorineural hearing
• gradual onset, progressive, bilateral

Question 24

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Answer 24

• damage to inner ear, cochlea, or 8th cranial nerve
• hereditary causes, viral/bacterial infections, trauma, tumors, noise, ototoxic drugs, Meniere disease

Question 25

Anosomia

Answer 25

inability to smell

Question 26

Ageusia

Answer 26

complete loss of taste