ppt on sensory deprivation

1. z
SEMINAR ON
SENSORY
DEPRIVATION AND
OVERLOAD
Moderator: Mrs. Madhavi Verma
Reader, CON, ILBS
Presented By: Priyanka Patel M.Sc.
Nursing 1st Year
Con, Ilbs

2. z CONTENT
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10
INTRODU
CTION
DEFINITION
CHARACTE
RSTICS
FACTORS ETIOLOGY
TYPES EFFECTS
CLINICAL
SIGN
COMPLICA
TIONS
NURSING
RESPONSIBI
LITY

3. z
INTRRODUCTION
 People are unique because they are able to
sense a variety of meaningful stimuli allow a
person to learn about the environment and
are necessary for healthy functioning and
normal development.

4. z
CONT…
Stimulation comes from
in and outside the body
particularly through the
sense of sight (visual),
hearing (auditory), touch
(tactile), smell (olfactory),
taste (gustatory) and
kinaesthetic (position and
movement).

5. z
CONT….
 When sensory function is altered the person’s
ability to relate to and function within the
environment changes drastically.

6. z
TERMINOLOGY
 Sense
An ability to understand, recognize, value, or react to something, especially
any of the five physical abilities to see, hear, smell, taste, and feel.
 Deprivation
A situation in which you do not have things or conditions that are usually
considered necessary for a pleasant life.
Example; they used sleep deprivation as a form of torture.
 Overload
To load to excess; overburden.

7. z
DEFINITION
SENSORY DEPRIVATION
 The reticular activity system in brain stem mediates all sensory
stimuli to the cerebral cortex, so even in deep sleep, clients are
able to receive stimuli. When a person experiences an
inadequate quality or quantity of stimulation, such as
monotonous or meaningless stimuli, sensory deprivation occurs.
 Sensory deprivation or perceptual isolation is the deliberate
reduction or removal of stimuli from one or more of the senses.

8. z
CONT…
 Sensory deprivation is a state of reduced sensory input
from the internal or external environment. It is
manifested by alterations in sensory perception, as a
result of illness, trauma, isolation, or medications that
depress the CNS, such as narcotics or sedatives. (By
WHO)

9. z
RECEPTORS AND SENSOR ORGANS
 Externally: vision (visual), hearing (auditory), touch (tactile), smell
(olfactory), taste (gustatory).
 Internally: kinaesthetic – refers to awareness of positioning of body
parts and body movement, visceral – to inner organ.
 Vision, hearing, smell, and taste are termed, special senses. Touch,
kinesthetic sensation, and visceral sensation are termed somatic
senses. After stimuli are received, they are perceived with the help of
the RAS. Sensory perception is a consociates process of selecting,
organizing, and interpreting sensory stimuli requiring intact and
functioning sense organs, nervous pathways, and the brain.

11. z
NORMAL SENSORY PERCEPTION
 Sensory perception depends on the sensory receptors, reticular
activating system (RAS), and functioning nervous pathways to the
brain. The RAS influences awareness of stimuli, which are
received through the five senses; sight, hearing, touch, smell, and
taste. Kinesthetic and visceral sense are stimulated internally.
Sensory perception involves the conscious organization and
translation of the data or stimuli into meaningful information.
Sensory perception depends on the sensory receptors, reticular
activating system (RAS), and functioning nervous pathway to the
brain.

12. z
RETICULAR ACTIVATING SYSTEM (RAS)
 It is responsible for bringing together information from the
cerebellum and other parts of the brain with the sense
organs. The RAS is highly selective. For example, a parent
may be awakened in the middle of the night at the slightest
murmur of an infant in a bedroom down the hall but may
sleep through the loud traffic noises outside the bedroom
window. Destruction of the RAS produces coma and an
electroencephalograph pattern characteristic of sleep.


13. z
ADAPTATION
 A stimulus must be variable or irregular to evoke a response. The
body quickly adapts to constants stimuli; thus the repeated
stimulus of continuing noise, such as city traffic, or a noxious
odour eventually goes unnoticed. This phenomenon is termed as
adaptation.
 Impulses that are not acted on when received may be used at a
later date. The memory process involve the storage of that
material.
 For example, thought and memory are used when a new sensory
experiences occurs and the organism uses a response based on
previous knowledge and experiences.

14. z
Characteristics of normal sensory
perception
 Normal measures of the quality and quantity of special and somatic
senses.
 Normal vision – visual acuity – 2020, tricolor vision, full field vision.
 Normal hearing – auditory acuity of sound at an intensity of 0-25db,
frequency of 125-8000 Hz per second.
 Normal taste – ability to discriminate sweet, sour, bitter, and salty.
 Normal smell – ability to discriminate primary odours. (pungent, musky,
floral).
 Somatic sense – ability to discriminate touch, pressure, vibration,
position, temperature, pain, etc.

15. z
NATURE OF SENSORY STIMULATION
For a person to receive data, four conditions must be met. They
are:-
 A stimulus: an agent, act or others influence capable of initiating a
response by the nervous by the nervous system must be present.
 A receptor or sense organ must receive the stimulus and convert
it to a nerve impulse.
 The nerve impulse must be conducted along a nervous pathway
from the receptor or sense organ to the brain.
 A particular area in the brain must receive the impulse into a
sensation.

16. z
CONT….
The study of stimulation begins with nerve cells, neuron. The cell has a projection or
process called Dendrite or Dendron, that carries an impulse to neuron. It also has an
axon which carries an impulse to CNS. Sensory nerves carry some impulses to area
of the brain where the individual become aware of the stimulus
Perception that occurs with awareness
When impulse reaches consciousness, the individual becomes
aware of outside world (e.g.: Optic nerves carry messages from the eye,
Olfactory nerves carry from the nose and so on)

17. z
CONT…..
The structure that receives stimuli is called a RECEPTOR (e.g.: Eye is the receptor of
light waves, and Muscle is the receptor of skeletal muscles)

18. z
SENSORY OVERLOAD
 Sensory overload means you’re getting more input from
your five senses than your brain can handle. Your senses like
smell, taste, sight, and sound tell your brain about your
environment, and your brain interprets the information and
controls your reaction.
 But if you take in too much information from your senses,
your brain just can’t make sense of it at all or focus on what’s
going on.
 Your brain then signals to your body you need to escape
from all this sensory input, causing an overwhelming “stuck”
feeling. This can turn into anxiety or panic.

19. z
These activities fall into three main categories:-
 Internal factors
 Information
 Environment
Internal factors: such as thinking about surgery or the
meaning of a medical diagnosis, can contribution to anxiety
and cognitive overload so that the person cannot process
additional stimuli. Pain, medication, lack of sleep, worry, and
brain injury also can contribute to a person’s vulnerability to
sensory overload.

20. z
CONT….
 Information: It is imparting information to a client may lead to sensory overload. Some
examples include teaching a client about a procedure, informing a client about a
diagnosis, making requests of a client, or helping the client solve a problem. Anxiety
related to medical diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment can contribute to sensory
overload. Lights and frequent activity may cause sensory overload in a premature
newborn in the neonatal intensive care unit.
 Environment: The environment of the healthcare agency provides a higher than usual
amount of sensory stimulation. A client newly admitted to the hospital, for example, may
have to cope with adjusting to a new roommate, having the television on more than
usual, bright lights, paging systems, meeting many staff members, having the bed move
up and down at someone else’s bidding, waiting for someone to answer the call light,
uncontrolled pain, and having strangers touch and not respect private body areas.
Clients in intensive care units often exhibit symptoms of sensory overload because of
the high degree of light, noise, and activity around the clock.

21. z
TYPES OF RECEPTORS
 Exteroceptors: Touch, light pressure, pain, temperature,
odor, sound, and light.
 Proprioceptors: Sense of position, movement and co-
ordination.
 Interceptors: Visceral information
 Chemoreceptors

22. z
FACTORS AFECTING SENSORY
PERCEPTION
Developmental
 Vision in a new-born develops during the first year.
 Visual acuity decreases after the age of 60 year.
 Hearing is most acute at 10 years of age.
 By the age of 65 years, about 55% has some hearing loss.
 Persons older than 60 years have some loss of taste.
 There is a decline in smell after the age of 70 years.

23. z
CONT…
New Born And Infant
 At birth sensory perception is rudimentary. New-borns require repeated
stimulation for the nervous system to mature and discrimination within
the senses to develop. New-borns see gross patterns of light and dark or
bright colors as they grow the vision become more discriminating.
Toddler And Preschooler
 Toddlers are exploring, investigating, learning about the environment by
seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling and touching. Preschoolers’ seek out
information more organized such as singing and storytelling to perceive
and respond to stimuli through the senses.

24. z
CONT….
Child And Adolescent
 School-age children and adolescent are learning to make independent
responses based on what is perceived through the senses, such as
crossing the street when the light turns green or reporting a fire when
smelling smoke.
Adult And Older Adult
 An adult sensory perception function is at its peak. However, as people
reach middle age they begin to notice certain changes in their sensory
system. As a person approaches 60 to 70 years of age, marked
decrements in sensory/perceptual behaviour begins. They cannot process
sensory input rapidly and need more time to deal with stimulating events.

25. z
CONT…
Environment :
 Sensory stimuli in the environment affect sensory perception. For
example, a teacher may not notice the noisy environment such as
school cafeteria. But the same teacher may perceive a loud television
set very differently in his or her own home which is usually quiet.
Previous experiences:
 Previous experience affects sensory perception in that people more
alert to stimuli that evoke a strong response. For example, a person
may drive to work by the same route each day, noticing little along
the way. A person may listen to the radio inattentively until a favorite
song is played, then listen to every word.

26. z
CONT…
Age:
 Perception of sensation is critical to the intellectual, social and
physical development of the children. Infants learn to recognize the
face of the mother or caregiver and establish bonding essential to
later emotional development. Adult have many learned responses to
sensory cues. Normal physiologic changes in older adults put them
at higher risk for altered sensory function.
Variations in stimulation:
 If a person experiences less than the usual stimulation, that person
is below his or her optimum state of arousal and may be at risk for
sensory deprivation.

27. z
CONT….
Medications and illness:
 Some antibiotics including streptomycin and gentamicin can damage
the auditory serve. Central nervous system depressants, such as
narcotic analgesics, decrease awareness and perception of stimuli.
 Certain diseases such as atherosclerosis and diabetic mellitus can
impair neurosensory pathways.
Stress-
 Stress and anxiety can have a negative influence on a person’s
behavior and thought patterns. Depending on the type and degree of
the stress, the person either find ways to cope with the situation or
becomes overwhelmed and may become disoriented.

28. z
SENSORY DEPRIVATION
 Although sensory deprivation can be thought of as the
opposite of sensory overload, they share many
elements. Sensory deprivation generally means a
lessening or lack of meaningful sensory stimuli,
monotonous sensory input, or an interference with the
processing of information.

29. z
CONT…
 Sensory deprivation or perceptual isolation is the deliberate reduction
or removal of stimuli from one or more of the sense. Simple devices such
as blindfolds or hoods and earmuffs can cut off sight and hearing
respectively, while more complex devices can also cut off the sense of
smell, touch, taste, thermoception (heatsense), and ‘gravity’. Sensory
deprivation has been used in various alternative medicines and in
psychological experiments (e.g, isolation tank).
 Short term sessions of sensory deprivation are described as relaxing and
conducive to meditation; however, extended or forced sensory deprivation
can result in extreme anxirty, hallucination, bizarre thoughts, and
depression.

30. z
SENSORY DEPRIVATION IN HOSPITAL
SETTINGS
In the hospital such occurrences fall into two general categories:
 Altered sensory reception
 Deprived environments
Altered sensory reception
 Occurs in such conditions as spinal cord injury, brain damage, changes in
receptor organs., sleep deprivation, and chronic illness. The person does
not receive adequate sensory input because of an interference with the
nervous system’s ability to receive and process stimuli.

31. z
CONT…
Deprived environment
 It can have negative effects on a person’s sensor stasis. A person
who is immobilized or isolated for any reason is deprived of the
usual amount of stimulation and may show manifestations of
sensory deprivation.

32. z
ETIOLOGY
1. Geriatric sensory deprivation
 Sensory deprivation in the elderly client can result from numerous causes,
depending on the sense affected.
Visual deficits
 It can result from certain physiologic changes to the pupils and iris that
occur with aging. Also the lens, cornea and vitreous humor become less
permeable to the light with age, impairing night vision and the ability to
adjust from lightness to darkness. Certain diseases also affect vision.
Example- transient ischemic attacks can produce transient blindness.
Cerebrovascular accident, diabetes or primary ophthalmic problems can
result in diplopia, glaucoma, macular degeneration and vitamin A and D
deficiencies can also cause visual deficits.

33. z
CONT…
Hearing deficits
 The amount of time required to process sound increases with age. Consonants are
particularly difficult to distinguish, acoustical nerve trauma, ototoxic medications,
infections and malignant tumors also can cause hearing loss. Hearing deficits in
older adults can also begin during middle age from degenerative changes in the
ear, resulting in the progressive atrophy of the sensory brain cells and supporting
cells. Later the neuron of the vestibulocochlear nerve and the higher auditory
pathways atrophy, which cause sensory neural hearing loss.
Olfactory
 The leading cause of the sense of smell is accidental injury about 1 in 16 clients
with head trauma permanently losses the ability to smell. Influenza, brain tumors,
allergies, smoking, environmental factors contribute to the problem.

34. z
CONT…
Gustatory
 Because the sense of smell is closely tied to the sense of taste, the loss of
the sense of smell typically interferes with the ability to taste. As a person
ages total number of taste buds decline and the taste buds themselves
deteriorate, smoking, vitamin D deficiency, decrease saliva production,
dentures and certain medications also dull the sense of taste.
Tactile
 This may result from neuropathy, disease, injury, or circulatory insufficiency.

35. z CONT…
2. In the hospital environment
 Any time a client experience an interference with or a diminution of
sensory output, that a person may be at risk for sensory deprivation.
In hospital such occurrences fall in to two categories:-
 Altered sensory perception:- this occurs in conditions like spinal
cord injury, sleep deprivation and chronic illness.
 Deprived environments:- these can have negative effects on a
person’s sensoristasis. A person who is immobilized or isolated for
any reason is deprived of the usual amount of stimulation and may
show manifestations of sensory deprivation.

36. z
Clients At Risk For Sensory Deprivation
Clients who
 Are confined in a non stimulating environment
 Have impaired vision or hearing
 Have motility restriction
 Are unable to process stimuli
 Have emotional disorders
 Have limited social contact

37. z
Types of sensory deprivation
Visual deprivation
 The very fast change in the ocular dominance of the cell during
monocular deprivation.
 It depends on the spread at which the deprivation effects.
Auditory deprivation
 It refers to a person’s lack of perception of adequate hearing stimulus.
 With auditory deprivation, the brain gradually loses some of its
information processing ability.
 The ability of the auditory system to process speech declines due to a
lack of stimulation.

38. z
CONT….
Tactile deprivation
 Deprivation in coma/immobilization.
 The long term care of a poorly responsive patient will be confined to bed
being turned every 3-4 hours, occasionally being ambulated.

39. z
Impact on activities of daily living
 Sensory perception dysfunction may have effects on activities of daily living
(ADLs). Visual deficits cause problems with self- care activities as basic as
dressing, toileting, and preparing meals. Hearing deficits may restrict people from
watching television, listening to the radio, and answering the telephone. Safety
hazards also exist for who are hearing impaired.
 People with taste and smell deficits may lose interest in eating.
 Those with sensory deficits involving touch are at risk for burns injuries to the
extremities. Moving around outside the home may be impossible without special
aids or help.

40. z
CONT…
 Many jobs are prohibited for people with sensory deficits, and driving may not be
allowed.
 This further restricts the environment in which they may move about safety, making
them dependent on others. If the affected person is the major wage earner, a
reduction in or loss of income may occur.
 People with cognitive dysfunction from sensory overload or deprivation may exhibit
poor judgment and problem solving during everyday activities, increasing the
necessity for family members to monitor activities and decisions.
All these concerns place more stress on the family to cope with sensory dysfunction.

41. z
Effects of sensory deprivation
Perceptual responses
 Inaccurate perception of sights, sounds, tastes, smell and body
position co-ordination and equilibrium.
 Mild to gross distortions ranging from day dreams to hallucinations.
Cognitive response
 Inability to control the direction of thought content
 Decreased attention span and ability to concentrate
 Difficulty with memory, problem solving and task performance

42. z
CONT…
Emotional response
 Inappropriate emotional responses including apathy, anxiety, fear,
anger, panic or depression and rapid mood changes.

43. z
Clinical signs of sensory deprivation
Physical behaviours
 Excessive yawning, drowsiness, sleeping
Escape behaviours
 Decreased attention span, difficulty in concentrating, decreased problem
solving, impaired memory, periodic disorientation, confusion, irritability,
pre occupation with somatic complaints, hallucinations-visual , auditory,
tactile, olfactory, gustatory, crying, annoyance over small matters,
boredom and apathy, emotional lability, eating, exercising, sleeping,
running away to escape the deprived environment.

44. z
CONT…
Changes in perception behaviour
 Unusual body sensations, pre-occupation with somatic
complaints (dry mouth, palpitations, difficulty breathing, nausea)
and changes in body image, illusions and hallucinations.
Changes in cognitive behaviour
 Decreased attention span, inability to concentrate, decreased
problem solving and task performance.

45. z
Diagnostic studies
The following studies may be performed to evaluate client’s health status:
 Snellen-eye examination to evaluate visual impairment.
 Comprehensive audiology examination to identify hearing impairment. Screening
technique include a self- estimate of hearing by the client, pure tone audiometry,
speech perception tests, and poor tone air (weber) and bone conduction (rinne tuning
fork) tests.
 Scratch and sniff test- to identify smelling impairment. Scents tested include vinegar,
coffee, perfume; smelling impaired client can typically identify only one scent.
 Taste tests- to identify sweet, bitter, sour and salty taste deficits; client sips a mixture of
sucrose, quinine, hydrochloric acid, sodium chloride and water.
 Computed technology (CT) scan- to rule out secondary causes for changes in
sensation, such as brain tumor.

46. z
Potential Complications
Vision:-
 Presbyopia-a gradual decline in the ability of the lens to
accommodate or to focus on closed objects. Individual is unable to
see near object clearly.
 Night blindness, glaucoma, macular degeneration.
 Retinitis pigmentosa, conjunctivitis, cataracts

47. z
CONT…
Hearing; - Impaired communication
Smell; - Inability to detect toxins or environmental hazards
Taste; - Malnutrition, dehydration
Touch; - Sensory overload, sin trauma

48. z
Uses of Sensory Deprivation as a
Technique
 Sensory deprivation has been used in various alternative medicines and in
psychological experiments (e.g., see isolation tank).
 Short-term sessions of sensory deprivation are described as relaxing and
conducive to meditation, however, extended or forced sensory deprivation
can result in extreme anxiety hallucinations, bizarre thoughts and
depression.
 E.g; Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy (REST)
(A) Chamber REST (B) Flotation REST

49. z
Relaxation techniques
Restricted environmental stimulation therapy (REST)
 Sensory deprivation, or Restricted Environmental Stimulation
Therapy (REST), is a technique by which sensory input (sound, light,
smell, etc.) is minimized. This practice encourages an extremely
deep level of relaxation.
A. Chamber REST
B. Flotation REST

50. z
Chamber REST
 In chamber REST, subject lie on a bed in a completely dark and
sound reducing (on average, 80 dB) room for up to 24 hours.
 Their movement is restricted by the experimental instructions, but
not by any mechanical restraints.
 Food, drink, and toilet facilities are provided in the room and are at
the discretion of the tester.
 Subjects are allowed to leave the room before the 24 hours are
complete, however fewer than 10% actually do.

51. z
Flotation REST
 Modern float tanks are large enough in size and shape to allow a full
sized adult to easily enter, exit, and lie comfortably.
 The bottom of the light proof and sound insulated chamber is filled with
30% Epsom salt solution.
 The density of this solution provides the floater with complete
buoyancy and weightlessness.
 Indeed, the solution’s density makes it impossible for the user to sink.

52. z
CONT…
 During a float session, the brain also enters the theta state, usually accessible only
in the brief moments before falling asleep.
 This level of consciousness provides access to the right hemisphere of brain, which
is associated with concentration, creativity, and learning.
 The brain can more easily retain information while in the theta state.
 A typical float session lasts an hour, although longer sessions are available. After
the floater rinses off the salt solution in a shower, most float centers provide a rest
area to recuperate and reflect on the float session.
 This downtime with other floaters and staff enhances the relaxation process. In total,
the entire session lasts one-and one-half to two hours. Repeated weekly sessions
are suggested to achieve the full benefits of Floatation REST.

53. z
Benefits of the therapy
These therapies have many physical and mental benefits.
 It provides an unparalleled level of relaxation.
 Old wounds and injuries are allowed to heal faster.
 Strengthens the immune system.
 Vasodilatory effect (the body’s circulation is increased while the blood
pressure and heart rate are reduced)
 Muscles and joints release tension.
 Reducing pain and fatigue.

54. z
CONT….
 Increase vitality and further reduce levels of stress and tension.
 Stress-related health problems as migraine headache, hypertension, and
insomnia are similarly reduced.
 Can help with eliminating compulsive behaviors such as alcoholism and
smoking.
 People with psychological and emotional problems as anxiety and
depression can also benefit from this therapy.
 Added benefit stems from the Epsom salts which provides buoyancy
(Epsom salt “draws toxins from the body, sedates the nervous system,
reduces swelling, relaxes muscles, and is a natural emollient (and
exfoliative).” Also, because the solution does not leach salt from the skin,
the floater’s skin will not wrinkle during the treatment).

55. z
NURSING MANAGEMENT OF THE PATIENT
WITH ALTERED SENSORY PERCEPTION
Assessment
Health History
 Client’s level of functioning
 Current sensory problems
 Client’s current occupation
 Home environment
 Ability to perform both daily-routine and self-care activities.

56. z
CONT….
Emotional Stability
 Agitation, euphoria, irritability, hopelessness
 Auditory, visual or tactile hallucinations
 Illusions
 Delusions.

58. z
Assessment of Sensory Function
Vision
 Ask the client to read newspapers, magazines
 Measure visual acuity with snellen chart
 Assess pupil size and accommodation to light
 Ask the client to identify colors on color chart (ishihara chart)
Hearing
 Perform audiometry
 Observe the client conversing with others
 Assess client’s perception of hearing ability and history of tinnitus
 Inspect ear canal for hardened cerument.

59. z
CONT….
Touch
 Assess the client for sensitivity to light tough and temperature
 Check client’s ability to discriminate between sharp and full stimuli
 Assess whether the client can distinguish objects in the hand with
eyes closed.
Smell
 Have the client close his eyes and identify several nonirritating odors.

60. z
CONT….
Taste
 Ask the client to sample and distinguish different tastes (e.g. coffee,
vanilla)
 Ask the client if the recent weight change has occurred.
Position Sense
 Perform conventional tests for balance and position sense.
 Romberg’s test

61. z
Nursing Management
The main aim of nursing Management is to cure the patient and prevent
complications.
Nursing Diagnosis
1) Sensory perceptual alteration related to an unfamiliar environment and an
insufficient amount of meaningful stimuli.

62. z
CONT…
Visual Stimulation:
 Colorful sheets, pyjamas.
 Pictures, flowers, greeting cards, etc. in the room.
 Minimize glare by selecting satin and nongloss furnishes for walls and
countertops at home and choosing sheer curtains, tinted windows.
 Wearing sunglasses before going outside.
 Clients with reduced visual acuity may need corrective lenses.
 Use pocket magnifiers.
 Provide telescopic lenses, eyeglasses which are smaller, easier to focus and
have a greater range.

63. z CONT…
Auditory Stimulation:
 Call the person by his/her name
 Reorient the patient
 Speak slowly, clearly, maintain eye-to-eye contact
 Procedure explanation
 Use sensory aids
 Allow time for the client to express himself/herself
 Televisions and telephones can be amplifies
 Alarm clocks that shake the bed or activate a flashing light are useful
adaptive devices

64. z
CONT…
Gustatory and Olfactory Stimulation:
 Attention to the oral hygiene and properly fitting dentures
 Serve fresh food
 Food of different textures, colors and temperatures served attractively.
 Smell the food before eating
 Seasoning foods or having favorite foods brought from home
 Removal of unpleasant odor from the environment
 Client’s room should be clean, empty bedpans or urinals, remove and
dispose of soiled dressings and bathroom doors closed.

65. z
CONT…
Tactile Stimulation:
 Provide tough therapy
 Hair brushing, combing, a back rub, and touching of the arms or shoulders
are the ways of increasing tactile stimulation.
 When invasive procedures are being performed, it is important to use tough
by holding the client’s hands, and keeping them warm and dry.
 Minimize irritating stimuli
 Nurse-client interaction
 Individualized nursing

66. z
CONT…
 Increased attention for the deprived client
 Addressing the patient by his/her name
 Reintroduction of self, place, person and time
 Explanation of all activities
 Length and frequency of interaction have to be individualized
 Touch the client when needed
 Encourage the client to touch and smell the food
 Hold the conversation of the staff out of hearing range

67. z
2) Risk for injury related to sensory dysfunction:
 Careful ambulation of a visually impaired client
 Maintain uncluttered room environment
 Articles should be within reach and orient the location
 Make sure that the call bell is functioning
 Never rearrange the room without informing the client
 Check the temperature of the bath water
 Teach the client with altered taste and smell in order to avoid the ingestion of
the stale foods
 Provide safety devices-side rails, night light, call system, etc.

68. z
3) Impaired skin integrity related to prolonged
immobilization:
 Change the position of the patient every 2 hourly
 Provide 4 hourly back care and examine the patient thoroughly for
alteration in the sin integrity
 Early ambulation is desired
 Perform physical therapy-active and passive ROM exercises
 Check the vitals 2-4 hourly

69. z
4) Sleep pattern disturbances related to multiple
environmental stimuli:
 Relaxation techniques, back rub, etc.
 Schedule a routine for procedures, care, medication
 Provide dim light, call bells during the night
 Avoid room clutters
 Limit the number of visitors
 Minimize the environmental noise
 Avoid diuretics at night time
 Avoid stimulants-coffee, tea, cola and beverages
 Provide eye shades/ear plugs during the night.

70. z
5) Fear and anxiety related to multiple
environmental stimuli:
 Reassure the patient
 Explain the procedure
 Provide sensory orientation
 Alleviate fear and anxiety
 Explaining the purpose, duration of the procedure
 Establishing a schedule for routing care.

71. z
THERAPEUTIC MEASURES FOR SENSORY
DEPRIVATION
Communication Methods
1) Client with Aphasia
 Listen to the client and wait for the client to communicate
 Use simple short questions, and facial gestures to give additional clues
 If the client has problem speaking, ask such questions that require simple
‘yes’ or ‘no’ answers or blinking of eyes
 Offer pictures or a communication board so that the clients can point
 Give the client time to understand, be calm and patient

72. z
CONT…
2) Client with Hearing Impairment
 Get the client’s attention. Do not approach a client from behind
 Face the client and stand or sit at the same level
 If the client wears a hearing aid, make sure it is in place and working
 Speak slowly and clearly
 Use visible expressions, speak with your hands, your face, and your eyes
 Do not shout
 Talk toward the client’s best or normal ear
 Use written information to enhance the spoken word
 Do not restrict a deaf client’s hands.

73. z SUMMARY
 Sensory deprivation a condition in which an individual receives less than
normal sensory input. It can be caused by physiological, motor, or
environmental disruptions. Sensory deprivation facilitates the production of
an altered state of consciousness through the reduction of extroceptive
stimulation and/or motor activity. Sensory deprivation functions in a similar
as meditation; both reduce the perception of external stimulus. Effects
Include boredom, irritability, and difficulty in concentrating, confusion, and
inaccurate perception of sensory stimuli. Auditory and visual hallucinations
and disorientation in time and place indicate perceptual disortions due to
sensory deprivation. Symptoms can be produced by solitary confinement,
loss of sight or hearing, paralysis, and even by ordinary hospital bed rest.

74. z
CONCLUSION
 Today we have dealt in detail about sensory deprivation- the normal
sensory perception and the normal sensory stimuli, how sensory
deprivation occurs, the factors causing sensory deprivation, the effects
of sensory deprivation, its impact on daily activities, relaxation
technique and the role of nurse in sensory deprivation. An individual
usually experience discomfort and anxiety when subjected to change
in the type or amount of incoming stimuli. A Person experiencing
sensory deprivation misinterprets limited stimuli with resultant
impairment of thoughts and feelings.