Psychosocial Integrity Q 3
The client with Alzheimer’s disease is being assisted with activities of daily living when the nurse notes that the client uses her toothbrush to brush her hair. The nurse is aware that the client is exhibiting:
A. Agnosia
B. Apraxia
C. Anomia
D. Aphasia
Correct Answer: A. Agnosia
Agnosia is the term used to describe the loss of the ability to recognize what objects are and what they are used for. For an instance, a person with agnosia might try to use a fork instead of a spoon, a shoe instead of a cup or a knife instead of a pencil etc. With regard to people, this might involve failing to recognize who people are, not due to memory loss but rather as a result of the brain not working out the identity of a person on the basis of the information supplied by the eyes.
Option B: Apraxia is the term used to describe the failure to carry out voluntary and purposeful movements notwithstanding the fact that muscular power, sensibility, and coordination are intact. In everyday terms, this might involve the inability to tie shoelaces, turn a tap on, fasten buttons or switch on a radio.
Option C: Aphasia is the term used to describe a difficulty or loss of the ability to speak or understand spoken, written or sign language as a result of damage to the corresponding nervous center. This can become apparent in a number of ways. It might involve exchanging a word which is linked by meaning (e.g. time instead of clock), using the wrong word but one which sounds alike (e.g. boat instead of coat) or using a totally different word with no apparent connection. When accompanied by echolalia (the involuntary repetition of words or phrases spoken by another person) and the constant repetition of a word or phrase, the result can be a form of speech which is difficult for others to understand or a kind of jargon.
Option D: Anomia is a form of aphasia in which the patient is unable to recall the names of everyday objects. Anomic aphasia is a language disorder that leads to trouble naming objects when speaking and writing. Brain damage caused by stroke, traumatic injury, or tumors can lead to anomic aphasia.