Lack of awareness of the need to void

Abstract

Although a person with an atonic bladder may be unaware of the fact that his or her bladder is full, an alternative situation exists whereby an individual has little or no sensation of a full bladder. Unlike the situation with atonic bladder, however, there is no disturbance to the sensory pathways from the bladder; therefore voiding can still take place. This occurs if there is damage to the spinal nerve pathways above the level of S2, dysfunction of the cerebral micturition control centre or if there is a degree of mental impairment which prevents an individual from recognizing the appropriate time or place to void, as occurs in acute and chronic confusional states and in some people with learning difficulties.