Overview
Sensory disorders encompass a range of conditions affecting sensory processing, including difficulties with olfactory, gustatory, cutaneous sensations, and sensory integration in emergency settings. These disorders can significantly impact patient care and quality of life 123.Diagnosis
Olfactory and Gustatory Loss: Assess for sudden or gradual onset of symptoms; evaluate for etiologies such as infections, medications, sinusitis, head trauma 2.
Cutaneous Sensory Disorder (CSD): Identify unexplained skin sensations (itching, burning, pain) without underlying dermatologic or medical cause; consider somatization and dissociation 3.
Neuroimaging/Workup: Typically negative in CSD; focus on detailed history and physical examination 3.Management
Education and Sensory Tools: Implement educational sessions for healthcare providers on sensory processing difficulties and provide sensory tools to enhance comfort and care quality 1.
Symptom Management: Address specific symptoms; for chemosensory disorders, consider dietary modifications and psychological support for QoL improvement 2.
No Specific Drug Mentioned: Current evidence does not specify particular drug classes or doses for sensory disorders 123.Special Populations
EMS Providers: Tailored education and sensory tools can improve provider comfort and patient care in prehospital settings 1.
No Specific Guidance for Pregnancy, Pediatrics, or Elderly: Abstracts do not provide detailed recommendations for these populations 123.Key Recommendations
Provide comprehensive education to EMS providers on sensory processing difficulties and equip them with sensory tools to enhance patient care (Evidence: Moderate 1).
For patients with chemosensory disorders, consider psychological support and dietary adjustments to manage diminished quality of life (Evidence: Moderate 2).
In managing Cutaneous Sensory Disorders, prioritize thorough clinical evaluation and psychological assessment due to the complex interplay of factors (Evidence: Expert opinion 3).References
1 Shah N, Hert K, Klasner AE. Increasing Comfort with Sensory Processing Difficulties in the Prehospital Setting: Pre-Post Study of Education and Sensory Tools in EMS Providers. Southern medical journal 2020. link
2 Merkonidis C, Grosse F, Ninh T, Hummel C, Haehner A, Hummel T. Characteristics of chemosensory disorders--results from a survey. European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery 2015. link
3 Gupta MA, Gupta AK. Cutaneous sensory disorder. Seminars in cutaneous medicine and surgery 2013. link
4 O'Donohue TL, Massari VJ, Pazoles CJ, Chronwall BM, Shults CW, Quirion R et al.. A role for bombesin in sensory processing in the spinal cord. The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience 1984. link