Sensory Perception and Cognitive Process Flashcards
Caring for a pt with Kinesthetic alterations:
- call for assistance before ambulating
- change position and stand slowly
- keep noise at a minimum
- installation of a grab bar
- well lighted rooms
- use assistant devices
`Caring for a pt with Visual alterations:
- oriented to items in room
- use glasses/contacts
- describe placement of food by #’s on a clock
- remove rugs
- bright lights
Caring for a pt with Sensory deprivation:
- provide social interaction
- enjoyable activities
- support groups
- touch
Caring for a pt with Sensory overload:
- dimming lights
- turn alarms down
- pain medication
- music
- back rub
- visits from family
Areas of the cerebrum are responsible for both
cognition, processing, and integration of info from sensory input
Lobe of Cerebellum Frontal:
voluntary function, concentration, communication, decision making, and personality
Lobe of Cerebellum Parietal:
sense of touch, distinguishing the shape and texture of objects
Lobe of Cerebellum Temporal:
hearing and smell
Lobe of Cerebellum Occipital:
vision
Delirium:
reversible state of acute confusion
a disturbance in consciousness or change in cognition and is caused by a medical condition
Dementia:
permanent decline in mental function
decline in many cognitive abilities including reasoning, use of language, memory (not reversible and worsens over time.)
Delusions:
False beliefs
Gustatory
sense of taste
Kinesthetic
balance
Olfactory
sense of smell
Presbycusis:
age related hearing loss
Presbyopia:
farsightedness age related decrease in the ability to focus on near objects
Tactile
touch
Alterations of the sensory and cognitive abilities occur from:
traumatic injuries, illnesses, metabolic imbalances, aging.
Stimulus:
change in the environment that created a response
Sensory adaptation
process by which some impulses are ignored by the brain during time of alertness because they are not prioritized as important
Depression
mood disorder characterized by a sense of hopelessness and persistent unhappiness
s/s: loss of interest, sadness for an extended period of time, decreased self-esteem, sleeping too much or insomnia, changing in eating patterns.
Sensory reception:
receiving stimuli and data
Sensory perception:
conscious organization and translation of stimuli and date into meaning
Factors influencing capacity to receive and perceive stimuli:
age meaningful stimuli environmental factors amount of stimuli social interaction cultural factorsj
Levels of Consciousness:
alert lethargic obtunded semi comatose comatose
Alert:
oriented, aware of stimuli
Lethargic:
slow to respond, is the response appropriate
Obtunded:
difficult to arouse, inconsistently follows commands
Semi-Comatose:
responds when stimulated, does not follow commands
Comatose:
no meaningful response
Sensory deprivation:
affects all 5 senses insufficient or monotonous stimuli that causes a change in perception of stimuli
characterized by: drowsiness, escape behaviors, pre-occupation, inability to concentrate, irritability, hallucinations
Nursing interventions for sensory deprivation:
visual stimulation auditory olfactory tactile gustatory cognition emotional care
Sensory Overload:
excessive stimuli (feels out of control) characteristics: confusion, anxiety, mental distress, panic, restlessness, insomnia, fatigue, impaired problem solving.
Myopia:
see close but not far away
Hyperopia:
farsightedness
Glaucoma:
(no cure) increased pressure in anterior cavity of the eye, loss of peripheral vision
Mascular Degeneration:
loss of central vision
Cataracts:
clouding of lens
______ last sense to be lost.
Hearing
The area of the brain that controls alertness and attention is the”
reticular activating system (RAS)
Communication Guidelines:
acknowledge presence remain in pt visual field normal voice tone explain reason for touching call light orient ambulate
Diabetic Retinopathy:
complication of diabetes mellitus in which the blood vessels of the retina becomes damaged —-> condition may lead to blindness
Hypernatremia & hyponatremia
CNS symptoms
Hypocalcemia:
tactile disturbances (tingling and numbness)
Hypoglycemic:
irritability and have difficulty concentrating
Urinalysis with culture and sensitivity
obtained for any pt exhibiting a change in cognition.
Pts with cognitive impairment are oriented by:
clock location social interaction calendar safe environment
Caring for dementia pt:
consistent routine
supervision
increase awareness by using clocks, calendars, notes, reminders
Caring for a pt with tactile alterations:
test bath water temp (reduce risks of burns)
active ROM is encouraged
turn every 2 hours
instructed to not use heat/cold therapies
Caring for a pt with olfactory/ gustatory alterations:
high armotic foods
enhance flavor of foods
fresh flowers
Caring for a pt with auditory alterations:
hearing aids are encouraged
nurse stands 3-5 feet in front
speak clearly and slowly
paper and pencil/ whiteboard may be used
