SENSORY

DEPRIVATION
AND
OVERLOAD
PRESENTED BY: SANGEETA
 CONTENT
1 2 3 4 5
INTRODUC CHARACTE
DEFINITION
RSTICS
FACTORS ETIOLOGY
TION

6 7 8 9 10

NURSING
CLINICAL COMPLICAT
TYPES EFFECTS SIGN IONS
RESPONSIBIL
ITY
 INTRODUCTION

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.
 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).
 CONT….

When sensory function is altered the

person’s ability to relate to and function
within the environment changes
drastically.
 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.
 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.
 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)
 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.
 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.
 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.

 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.
 Characteristics of normal sensory
perception
 Normal measures of the quality and quantity of special and somatic
senses.
 Normal vision – visual acuity – 20\20, 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.
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.
 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)

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

Hearing; - Impaired communication

Smell; - Inability to detect toxins or environmental
hazards
Taste; - Malnutrition, dehydration
Touch; - Sensory overload, sin trauma
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
 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
 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.
 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.
 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.
 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.
 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).
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.
 CONT….
Emotional Stability
 Agitation, euphoria, irritability,
hopelessness
 Auditory, visual or tactile hallucinations
 Illusions
 Delusions.
 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.
 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.
 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
 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.
 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.
 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
 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.
 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
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.
 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
 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.
 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.
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
 Ifthe 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
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
 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.
 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.