Sensory Perception Flashcards
sensation
the ability to perceive stimulation through one’s sensory organs
perception
- the process by which we receive, organize, and interpret sensation
- the ability to interpret sensory impulses
- the ability to give meaning to impulses
sensory perception
the ability to receive sensory input and through various physiological processes in the body, translate the stimulus or data into meaningful information
normal physiological process
- vision (CN 3,4,6)
- hearing (CN 8)
- taste (CN 9,10,12)
- smell (CN 1)
- touch (vibrations, temp, itch)
reception
the process of receiving stimuli from nerve endings, occurs through receptors
what are the types of receptors
- thermoreceptors
- proprioceptors: in the tendons, ligaments joints, coordinate out position in space
- photoreceptors: detects visible light in retina
What is perception affected by?
- location of receptor
- number of receptors activated
- frequency of action potentials (ho intense/how often)
- changes in above
Arousal Mechanism
- composed of consciousness and alertness
- mediated by reticular activating system
- depressed by anesthesia, sedation, drugs, alcohol
- affected by environment, medications
What are some factors the affect response to sensations?
- intensity of stimulus (intense will excite a big response)
- contrasting stimuli (go from one extreme to another)
- adaptation to stimuli (can get used to stimuli
- previous experience
requires people to be:
- alert
- receptive to stimulation
Developmental factors
- Infant: can only smell a few things
- children: vision improves, auditory fully develops
- adult: senses are at their peak
- older adults: eyesight decreases (presbyopia), hearing decreases (changes within middle ear)
Medications
- Alert the CNS
ex. cocaine, adderall if not prescribed - depress the CNS
ex. alcohol, ativan, opioids, analgesics - cause impairment to the senses
ex. aspirin over time, hypertension can impair taste buds, chemo drugs and lasix can impair hearing
factors contributing to sensory alteration
- sensory alteration
- sensory deprivation
- sensory deficits
what is sensory overload
develops when environmental and or internal stimuli exceeds higher level that what the pt can process
ex. hospital patient
what will be found on assessment of a pt that is experiencing sensory overload
irritability, anxiety, restlessness, drowsiness
What type of client is at risk for sensory overload
disoriented, confused, reduced attention span, anyone who has physical discomfort
What are some interventions for sensory overload
- focus on prevention
- minimize stimuli
- teach stress reduction
- provide rest
What is sensory deprivation
lack of meaningful stimuli
What are causes of sensory deprivation
- isolation
- neurological injury
- impaired ability to receive stimuli
What are some assessment findings of a patient that is experiencing sensory deprivation
- decreased attention span
- irritability
- delusions
- hallucinations
- preoccupied with somatic complaints
What type of client is at risk for sensory deprivation
- pts in isolation
- pts who live alone
- pts that have been put into solitary confinement
what are some interventions for pts experiencing sensory deprivation
- focus is prevention
- support senses
- orientation
- provide stimuli
- facilitate communication
- promote adequate sleep and rest
List the sensory deficits
- impaired vision
- impaired hearing
- impaired smell
- impaired taste
- impaired tactile perception
- impaired kinesthetic sense
interventions for impaired vision
- glasses
- provide sufficient light
- self-care behaviors
- magnifying lens
- evaluate
interventions for impaired hearing
- hearing aid
- closed caption television
- regular inspection of ear canals
- improve communication
- promote safety
- assess for social isolation
- evaluate
list some ways to make communicating with a client who is confused easier
- use frequent face to face contact to communicate the social process
- speak calmly, simply, and directly to the patient
- orient and reorient the patient to the environment
- orient the patient to time, place, and person
- communicate that the patient is expected to perform self care activities
- offer explanations for care
- reinforce reality if the patient is delusional
interventions for impaired hearing
- hearing aids
- closed-caption television
- regular inspection of canals
- improve communication
- promote safety
- assess for social isolation
- evaluate
