Sensory Perception

Presented by Sharon Celestine, Clinical Instructor at Delado Community College

Student Learning Outcomes

• Explain common causes and effects of sensory alteration
• Discuss sensory perceptual changes with aging
• Outline ways to maintain a safe environment for patients with sensory deficit
• Differentiate between presbyopia, myopia, cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration
• Use health language related to sensory perception appropriately
• Utilize the nursing process for patients with sensory perceptual alteration

What is Sensory Perception?

• Perception: Use of senses to understand the world
• Sensory Perception: Gained through light, taste, touch, or hearing
• Five Basic Senses: Touch, sight, hearing, smell, and taste
• Sensory Reception vs. Sensory Perception:
  • Reception: Receiving stimuli via sensory organs
  • Perception: Awareness and interpretation of stimuli in the brain

Memory and Sensory Perception

• Short-term Memory: Holds information briefly
• Long-term Memory: Formed by paying attention and processing
• Types of Sensory Memory: Iconic (visual) and Echoic (sound)

Alterations in Sensory Perception

• Affects ability to connect and function safely in the environment
• Causes: Aging, genetics, illness, lifestyle factors, pharmacological causes

Sensory Changes with Aging

• Iris accommodation decreases
• Pupil reaction less brisk
• Peripheral vision diminishes
• Light glare adaptation decreases
• Visual changes due to lens elasticity loss
• Impact of comorbidities: diabetes, cardiovascular disease

Nursing Process for Sensory Perception

Assessment

• Observation, patient interview, mental status exam
• Identify risk factors, safety factors, support network

Diagnosis

• Related to safety, cognition, communication, self-care

Planning

• Incorporate health promotion, chronic disease education, safety from injury

Implementation/Intervention

• Independent: Assess understanding, promote safety, educate, monitor adherence
• Collaborative: Involve other professionals, administer meds, assist with procedures

Patient Teaching

• Eye exams every 2-3 years, annually if at risk
• Audiology exams every 10 years, PRN for changes
• Use of assisted devices like eyeglasses, adequate lighting
• Strategies for effective communication

Specific Conditions

Myopia

• Nearsightedness where distant objects are blurred
• Caused by eyeball shape or corneal curve

Presbyopia

• Age-related farsightedness
• Symptoms: Need to hold materials at arm's length, blurred vision

Cataracts

• Cloudy lens, impacts light transmission
• Treatment: Surgery to replace cloudy lens
• Post-op care: Light activity, eye protection

Glaucoma

• Group of eye conditions causing blindness
• Damages eye nerve due to high pressure
• Types: Open-angle (slow loss), angle-closure (emergency)

Macular Degeneration

• Leading cause of vision impairment in older adults
• Affects the retina, causing central vision loss

Presented by Sharon Celestine