Temperature recognition is a protective sensation which is performed by thermoreceptors in the skin.
- Explain to the client what you will be doing and why you will be doing it. Say: “A ______ injury can affect how a person feels things. I would like to check how you are feeling temperature by touching you on your arms and hands.”
- Show the client the hot/cold tubes. Instruct them to tell you which temperature they feel. Say: “I am going to be using this tube. Tell me if it feels hot or cold.”
- Demonstrate on yourself. Say: “I am going to touch you like this.”
- Demonstrate on patient’s less involved side with visual input. Say: “I am going to touch you like this. This is hot and this is cold.”
- Assess patient’s less involved side with vision occluded. Test random stimuli in random locations 10 times. Say: ” Now, I am going to do the same thing but so that you cannot see when I touch you.”
- Assess patient’s more involved side with vision occluded. Test random stimuli in random locations 10 times. Say: “Now, I am going to do the same thing on the other side.”
- Document results of the assessment as intact, impaired or absent as identified ___/10 stim correctly. Ex: “Impaired as identified 6 of 10 stim correctly.”
(Gett & Romaniw, 2021)
References
Gett, M., & Romaniw, A. (2021, October 19). Sensory deficits [PowerPoint slides]. Brightspace. https://mylearning.chatham.edu/d2l/le/content/21252/Home
Morton, M. (Photographer). (2021). Temperature sensation [Photograph].
Occupational Therapy Assessments 