• Question: what is the difference between a coma and locked-in syndrome?

    Asked by anon-204020 to Vassilis, Tirso, Matthew, Jane, Dawn, Alexandra on 12 Mar 2019.
    • Photo: Dawn Rose

      Dawn Rose answered on 12 Mar 2019:

      Locked-in syndrome is sometimes also called a pseudo coma because brainwaves appear normal but the person cannot communicate whereas someone in a coma does not respond with normal reactions from example to light, or have typical sleep/wake cycles.

    • Photo: Vassilis Sideropoulos

      Vassilis Sideropoulos answered on 12 Mar 2019:

      I think Dawn’s answer is very clear! But if you want to find out more, check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_mmvxPUnaI

    • Photo: Alexandra Quigley

      Alexandra Quigley answered on 13 Mar 2019:

      Yeah, I guess that another way of thinking about it is that someone with locked-in syndrome has in tact cognitive functioning but cannot control their body, and their ability to do very basic things is incredibly impaired. They are conscious and aware but cannot do anything for themselves – being trapped in their body. People in a coma, don’t have that same level of consciousness or cognitive ability.

Comments