Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN) Practice Exam

The act of recognizing objects by touch and manipulation is known as what?

1. Proprioception

2. Visual agnosia

3. Stereognosis

4. Auditory perception

The correct answer is: Stereognosis

The process of recognizing objects through the sense of touch and manipulation is referred to as stereognosis. This ability allows individuals to identify objects without the need for visual cues, relying instead on tactile input, texture, weight, and shape. It involves the integration of sensory information from the skin, joints, and muscles to create a perception of the object's properties. Stereognosis is crucial in rehabilitation settings, especially for individuals recovering from neurological injuries or conditions affecting sensory perception, as it can aid in fostering independence in daily tasks by enhancing tactile recognition skills. Through activities and exercises designed to improve stereognosis, rehabilitation nurses can help patients gain confidence in their ability to interact with their environment, thus supporting their overall functional recovery. In contrast, proprioception pertains to the body's ability to sense its position and movement in space but does not specifically relate to the recognition of objects through touch. Visual agnosia is a condition where a person cannot recognize objects visually, which is fundamentally different from tactile recognition. Auditory perception involves the processing of sounds, rather than the recognition of objects through touch. Each of these terms defines distinct sensory modalities or conditions, making stereognosis the accurate choice for the recognition of objects by touch and manipulation.