Perceptual dysfunction: nursing assessment and management

Perceptual dysfunction is a complex problem and can be a serious barrier to the patient's recovery of independence. Nurses play a significant role in the identification of a possible perceptual deficit and in the use of nursing interventions that complement and are coordinated with the work of the occupational therapist. Four common categories of perceptual dysfunction are identified. One-sided neglect and apraxia are emphasized and specific assessment data and nursing interventions for these two problems are discussed. Agnosia and visual-spatial relationship problems are described briefly. The related problem of visual deficits is outlined and discussed with reference to perceptual dysfunction.