Perceptual disorder occurs when the processing of sensory impressions in the brain does not occur properly. The reasons for perceptual disorders can be varied. Therapy is determined individually depending on the degree and type of perceptual impairment and is carried out by specialists.
What are perceptual disorders?
Therapies to treat the deficient skills are performed by psychologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, remedial teachers and speech therapists. Perceptual disorder affects the central nervous system, where the processing of sensory impressions (the visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory and tactile perceptions) does not proceed normally for some reason. In a narrower sense, we speak of perceptual disorders when sensing, the connection of sensory systems or the sequence of sensory stimuli are affected. There are three types of perceptual disorders: tactile-kinesthetic, intermodal, and serial.
Causes
The causes of perceptual disorders can vary. There may be congenital defects, but also acquired defects that cause the perceptual disorder. In some patients, it is a visual or hearing impairment that has not been treated in time. If this weakness has existed for a long time and was corrected late or not at all by glasses or hearing aids, the affected person has deficient experience in perceiving everyday events. This lack of experience contributes to the perceptual disorder. Another cause of a perceptual disorder can be a developmental and maturational disorder that occurs because of a lack of encouragement and stimulation. Extensive medical and psychological examinations are necessary to determine the exact causes of the perceptual disorder.
Diseases with this symptom
- Developmental disorders in children
- Agnosia
- Age-related hearing loss
Diagnosis and progression
The first step of diagnosis happens by observation. If the above weaknesses are observed, then the affected person (or relatives of the affected person) should contact a doctor. It may happen, especially in children, that it is only a temporary weakness in perception. An exact diagnosis can be made by psychologists, specialists, curative and special pedagogues. First, the affected sensory organs are examined; if necessary, additional neurological examinations are necessary to determine the reasons for the perceptual disorder. Normally, we perceive the environment consciously and unconsciously without interruption through our five sensory impressions, i.e. hearing, touch, smell, taste and sight. The external stimuli are transmitted to the brain and processed there. After this processing, we hear a sound, or an actual image appears before us. In the case of a perceptual disorder, this processing does not happen or does not happen completely. In the processing and shaping of our perceptions, past experiences or our desires play a major role. An example of a visual perception disorder is that the affected person cannot grasp the spatial position of an object or has difficulty recognizing the same shapes. An example of auditory perception disorder is when patients struggle to break words down into sounds. It happens that sufferers do not notice when they are too hot or too cold. This is a disorder of body perception.
Complications
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In many cases, the perception disorder exists in a person from birth. This usually cannot be treated and will not go away on its own. If a perceptual disorder occurs over time, it can be treated in many cases. For example, eyeglasses or hearing aids help people see and hear. In most cases, these devices also help to stop the development of the perceptual disorder. Indeed, if no treatment is perceived for a perceptual disorder or no appropriate help is used, the disorder usually worsens. The eyes can be further weakened because the muscles have to strain to see sharply. If the auditory canal is disturbed, the volume is often increased, causing further damage to the ears. Therefore, perceptual disorders should always be treated by a doctor. Without treatment, they can lead to severe headaches or even psychological problems.The affected person is often disoriented and feels anxiety due to the physical changes. A perceptual disorder can also occur when the sensory organs function correctly, but the signals are not evaluated or are evaluated incorrectly. In these cases, no direct treatment is possible.
When should you see a doctor?
Perceptual disorders should be taken seriously, as they can have dangerous causes. It is therefore imperative to see a doctor. Only a medical professional can make a reliable diagnosis and initiate adequate treatment steps. Those affected should therefore not hesitate at all. The family doctor can be considered the first point of contact. The symptoms can be discussed in detail with him. In the case of children, a pediatrician should be consulted immediately. Since the physical development of a child is not yet complete, parents must take immediate action. They should involve a pediatrician immediately. Depending on the nature and extent of the perceptual disorders, other medical contacts may also be considered. If the perceptual disorders lead to speech difficulties, a speech therapist should be consulted. In addition, remedial pedagogues, occupational therapists and physiotherapists can also be helpful in the treatment. However, these should only be consulted after a prior consultation with a family doctor. Based on his or her medical experience, the latter can refer the patient to the most competent specialist. Thus, it may also be necessary to consult a neurologist or ear, nose and throat specialist.
Treatment and therapy
If the causes of the perceptual disorder are physical, then the causes are first treated to eliminate the weakness. Otherwise, special trainings help to treat the deficient skills. Therapies are carried out by psychologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, remedial teachers and speech therapists. The Affolter method or guided interaction therapy, named after the Swiss psychologist and psychotherapist Félicie Affolter, is a touch-based, everyday treatment method that can be used for a perceptual disorder. It means that the recognition of the relationship between the body and the environment is done through specific guidance of the body parts, especially the hands. The therapist guides the patient’s hands specifically during everyday situations so that the patient recognizes the environment through touch. In this way, patients can come to the sensed information. This therapy achieves the improvement of perception and the expansion of the sensed information search. In this way, the patients come to more information about the environment and acquire a greater understanding about it. They become more flexible, independent, even their linguistic performance improves. The therapy promotes motor, cognitive and emotional performance. Of course, the earlier the deficits are identified and treated, the faster the healing process.
Outlook and prognosis
Perceptual dysfunction can have a variety of courses, usually depending greatly on the cause of the perceptual dysfunction. If the perceptual disorder occurs due to the use of alcohol or other drugs, it usually disappears after a short period of time when the respective substance is discontinued and no longer taken. In cases of dependence, withdrawal is necessary for this. Excessive use of drugs can also cause certain nerves in the body to be damaged and perceptual disturbances to occur at these sites. Also, some drugs can trigger a perceptual disorder and should then be replaced by another or completely discontinued after consulting a doctor. If the perceptual disorder occurs in the ears or eyes, these disorders can be treated relatively well. For this purpose, glasses, contact lenses or hearing aids are available to the affected person, so that the perceptual disorder can be well compensated. If the perceptual disorder can be treated, it does not lead to further complications in most cases. In certain syndromes, mental retardation leads to a perceptual disorder. It is almost impossible to make a general prediction about the course of the disease in perceptual disorder, because the treatment and its success depend greatly on the cause of the disease.
Prevention
In many cases, a perceptual disorder has been present since birth.An important preventive measure is therefore that the pregnant woman does not smoke, drink alcohol or take any other drugs. From the medical side, it is imperative to avoid hypoxia during the birth process and to think about not performing a cesarean section. Moreover, a child who grows up in a loving world endowed with a great variety of stimuli will be less at risk of suffering from a perceptual disorder later on.
Here’s what you can do yourself
Perceptual disorders can have serious causes and should always be checked out by a doctor. However, some of the symptoms can be alleviated with the help of home remedies and practical measures. First of all, it is advisable to record the complaints in a diary and to note down exactly the type and intensity of the disturbances. Mild perceptual disturbances can often already be reduced by physical exercise, relaxation or a balanced meal. Sometimes the complaints are also due to exhaustion or dehydration. If perception disorders are suspected, one’s own lifestyle should therefore first be questioned. If no abnormalities are found here, the disorders may be due to an allergy or intolerance that can be treated by avoiding the substance in question. If heat stroke is the cause, bed rest and cooling applications such as a cold wrap can help. Chronic perception disorders that lead to impairments in everyday life should be discussed with the family doctor. If the offspring is affected, the pediatrician should be consulted first. Other contacts, depending on the nature of the complaints, are also speech therapists, remedial teachers, occupational therapists or physiotherapists. In the case of auditory perception disorders such as tinnitus, a visit to an ear specialist is recommended.
