A patient requires assistance to prevent falling on conditions 4, 5, and 6 of the Sensory Organization Test. What does this finding suggest?
a. Impaired use of visual and somatosensory cues for balance
b. Impaired use of vestibular cues for balance
c. Impaired use of visual and vestibular cues for balance
d. Impaired use of vestibular and somatosensory cues for balance
During each of these 3 conditions, the individual must increase reliance on their vestibular system to make up the difference from the loss of vision and/or somatosensory systems.
Why is the answer C and not D? Is this an error? Or can someone explain why it’s C…
Here is my reasoning. In Condition 1,2 and 3 he is doing well with all 3 systems available in cond 1 and somato and vest available in 2 and 3. But in 4,5,6 somato is unavailable and though visual is available in cond 4 he is still losing his balance. Then 5,6 is of course mainly vestibular. But since losing in 4 too it implies his visual is ineffective to help him.
Hope this helps.
Good luck!
Jackie hit the nail on the head with her explanation (thanks, Jackie! :)). In conditions 1, 2, and 3, the patient is able to rely on somatosensory cues and does not lose their balance. In conditions 4, 5, and 6, somatosensory cues are altered. This requires increased dependence on visual (condition 4) and/or vestibular (conditions 4, 5, 6) cues for balance. If the patient had no impairment in the use of visual cues, they likely would not have fallen on condition 4.