Sensory Deficits

Physical Communication Cognitive Behavioural / Emotional

Vision

Back to top

Vision is our dominant sense and most of our perception, learning, cognition and activities are mediated through vision.

Vision is a complicated process and does not just involve what is ‘seen’ by the eye.

The process of vision can be broken down into;

  • visual acuity and visual field,
  • visual motor abilities and
  • visual perception.

Visual acuity refers to clarity of sight. Visual acuity can become blurred due to a variety of conditions. Visual field refers to the central and peripheral vision which together make up the ‘panorama’ of vision. Various neurological conditions can cause loss of visual field which may involve one or both sides of vision. A person may be blind to half their field of vision. Scanning techniques can be taught, or special prisms used to increase field of vision.

Visual motor abilities involve movement of the eyes. The eyes may no longer be aligned, or be unable to steadily gaze at an object, or to ‘track’ a moving object. It can also affect the ability to ‘scan’ documents or to focus. There may also be a loss of binocular vision and depth perception. Double vision or diplopia is a common result of head injury. Diplopia may be corrected using vision therapy or special lenses.

Visual perception may involve such things as loss of hand-eye co-ordination, the ability to associate what is seen with what is heard, the ability to remember information that is seen, the ability to recognise objects, and the ability to recognise where a person is in relation to objects around them. Lenses, prisms and visual rehabilitation activities are used in the remediation of these disorders.

Hearing Problems

Back to top

Hearing loss can occur as a result of acquired or traumatic brain injury. There may be damage to the structure of the ear, to the nerves connecting the ear to the brain, or to the way hearing is processed within the brain. The hearing loss may be accompanied by Tinnitus which can be described as a ringing, hissing or roaring sound. Hearing problems can be distressing and result in isolation.

Treatment may include medical management, hearing aids, or auditory processing therapy. It’s important to determine how much of the hearing loss is caused by other symptoms such as memory or attention difficulties, which may also accompany a TBI.

Loss of Smell and Taste

Back to top

Loss of taste and/or smell has been reported to be as high as 25 percent after traumatic brain injury. The loss of taste is generally due to loss of smell. Loss of smell has many possible causes including injury to the nose, nasal passages, sinuses, olfactory nerve, and injury within the brain. Unfortunately, there is no good treatment cure for post-traumatic anosmia (loss of smell). Typically, if a person doesn’t regain their ability to smell six months after the injury, the loss will likely be permanent.

Precautions may need to be taken as the person suffering loss of smell may not smell smoke in a fire, or gas escaping if an oven is left switched on etc. Vibrating fire alarms can be used under mattresses in beds, and it may be worth considering switching from gas cooking to other methods of cooking.

Additional Sensory Integration Issues that many brain injured children and young people experience

What is Sensory Integration?

Sensory integration is a sub-conscious and automatic neurological process that occurs in every person at every stage of life. It is important in all the things we need to do every day. i.e. getting washed, dressed, eating, socialising, learning and working. Sensory Integration looks at the interaction between and the development of the vestibular, proprioception, touch, vision, and hearing senses. These are important in supporting our ability to concentrate, develop self-esteem and confidence as well as having self-control and academic skills.  Sensory experiences include touch, movement, body position, vision, smell, taste, sounds and the pull of gravity.   For most people this develops naturally in childhood whilst doing normal childhood activities, such as crawling, walking and playing.

However, on a case by case basis we are becoming increasingly aware of brain injured children and young people and their parents reporting sensory integration problems following an acquired brain injury, particularly when the brain injury was sustained at a very early age.   This appears to affect at least 50% of our child brain injury cases; yet to date very little research recognises these additional sensory issues as being related to an acquired brain injury.

In total we have 8 Senses.  In addition those outlined above, we also have Tactile, Proprioception, Vestibular and Interoception senses, which are explained below.

Tactile

The tactile system is our sense of touch which we receive through different sensory receptors in our skin. It is through the tactile system that we first receive information about the world when we
come out from the womb environment. The ability to process tactile information effectively allows us to feel safe and form bonding with those who love us. It contributes to our social and emotional development.   One important role of our tactile system is its protective function that alerts us when something is unpleasant or dangerous. For some children, this function of the tactile system is not working normally. In our experience the tactile system can also change following a head injury or acquired brain injury.  Children and young people sometimes may perceive most touch sensations to be uncomfortable or scary and react with a flight-or-flight response. This condition tactile defensiveness and was first identified by Dr A.J. Ayres, an American Occupation Therapist around the 1960s.

Proprioception

Our muscles and joints have tiny sensory receptors that tell our brain where our body parts are or what is touching them. So, when you put a spoon in your mouth, you don’t need to look at the spoon to see where it is, because you can feel it. You also don’t need to feel where you mouth is because you know and can coordinate food into your mouth. It is largely your proprioceptive receptors that give you this information and your brain is able to plan those movements to enable you to perform the task.  A significant problem post head injury is not being aware of your extremities, such as your feet.  Knowing where you feet are in space and time is important for preventing accidents, trips and falls.  For example a person with Proprioception problems will sit on a chair but trip over the leg when they stand up because they will have no sensory feedback to prevent that happening.  Alternatively they will walk past a chair and trip over the leg because they have no awareness of where there feet are in relation to the chair leg.  Sensory Integration Therapy can help to relieve these symptoms.

Vestibular

In our inner ear we have small fluid filled canals. The fluid in the canals moves every time we move our head.  Receptors in these canals pick up the direction of movement and send this information to our brain, so we know if we are moving forwards, backwards, side to side, tilting our head, turning around or moving up and down.  Our brain uses this information to plan for movements and help us maintain our balance.  Following a brain injury, in particular a traumatic brain injury or skull fracture, the fluid filled cavities can be damaged which causes then causes dizziness, unsteadiness and nausea as a few examples.  Sensory Integration Therapy can help to relieve these symptoms.

Interoception

Interoception is how our body tells our brain what is going on inside our body, such as when we are hungry or feel full, when our heart is beating fast or when we have ‘butterflies’ in our stomach.  This sense can be significantly affected post brain injury, with children and young people reporting they never actually feel hungry.  Sensory Integration Therapy can help to relieve these symptoms.

SENSORY INTEGRATION PROBLEMS

In 2015, Parnham and Mailloux identified four categories of Sensory Integration problems:

1. Sensory modulation problems
2. Sensory discrimination and perceptual problems
3. Vestibular bilateral functional problems
4. Praxis problems

Post brain injury children can present with arrange of sensory processing difficulties. All create problems for a child’s functioning in their own right; which can have a huge impact on their  behaviour and reactions to certain situations.

If you think you child may be experiencing Sensory Integration Problems post brain injury, please contact us for further information.

 


"Families need to be properly supported as 'resilience' is key to delivering successful outcomes for children and young people."
Roberta De Pompeii; USA
I was very impressed with the results you have had with the young people you have worked with.
"Too often children and young people with ABI are discharged from hospital without specialist brain support that they and their families need to overcome lifelong challenges"
Andrew Ross; former Chief Executive of the Children's Trust
"When someone has a brain injury, early access to local, specialist rehabilitation is crucial to ensure the maximum recovery and make significant savings to the state in health costs"
Headway; United Kingdom
"Strength-based family intervention after pediatric ABI is essential. Parents need to be equipped with the skills to cope and advocate for the child."
Caron Gan; Canada
Child 1 - Aged 14 and 3 years after a traumatic brain injury
2019 2020 Change
REASONING 301/800 426/800   +  125
MEMORY 181/800 304/800   +  123
ATTENTION 463/800 573/800   +  110
COORDINATION 47/800 309/800   +  262
PERCEPTION 158/800 374/800   +  216
"We would like to see earlier identification and support for children with brain injuries to help them succeed in school."
Dalton Leong; Chief Executive of the Children's Trust
"NHS clinicians struggle with what intervention to prioritise in paediatric neuro-rehabilitation due to limited clinical time and the complexity of needs. Children, clinicians, parents and schools all have different neuro-rehabilitation priorities"
Recolo; United Kingdom
"Brain development is complex and prolonged. Brain plasticity is influenced by a range of factors. Plasticity provides a base for neuro-rehab therapies and treatment"
Professor Bryan Kolb; Canada
"We are impressed with the progress you have made with the individual we referred to you."  Social Worker    

OUR MISSION: To work to remove inequalities for children & young people affected by acquired brain injury; and provide effective support to their families that makes a real difference to their lives.

Council for Disabled Children Community Funded Charity Excellence Lottery Funded Youth Foundation BBC CiN