Tehnaokis

Tehnaokis is a condition caused by damage to the tehna nerves on a a Seadweller's forehead.  The damage can occur at any point in life, and the condition was considered severely disabling for most of Retikan history.
It wasn't until the Retikan Seadwellers and Itakian peoples were ready to join the galactic community that a reliable treatment using tissue regeneration was made widely available.
There are three main types of tehnaokis: Temporary, Hatched, and Acquired.  Hatched Tehnaokis occurs when a child hatches with the nerves already damaged or otherwise non-functional, and is extremely rare.  Acquired Tehnaokis, much like the name implies, is acquired after hatching.  Even if a child develops tehnaokis shortly after hatching, it is still considered Acquired.  Temporary Tehnaokis is usually a symptom of another physiological condition, such as a concussion.

Acquired Tehnaokis has been all but eradicated due to the advancement of medical technology.  Only individuals who cannot, for other medical reasons, undergo the procedure are ever diagnosed with the condition.

Transmission & Vectors

This condition is not transmissible from person to person, as it is typically caused by direct damage to the tehna nerves.  The exception is Hatched Tehnaokis, which has been shown to run in families.

Causes

The causes of tehnaokis are varied and many.  Due to the tehna nerves being located prominently on the foreheads of Retikan Seadwellers, damage after hatching is common, especially during rough play, or hazardous jobs, such as many military positions.
Temporary tehnaokis is commonly associated with head trauma such as a concussion, similar to how Itakians and humans may experience dizziness or blurry vision.
Acquired Tehnaokis is often caused by major trauma to the tehna nerves, such as burns, deep cuts, or blunt force trauma.  This variant of the condition is often permanent.
Hatched Tehnaokis' cause is still unknown to the medical community, with the only clue to its cause being a familial link.  Speculation as to the cause includes dietary deficiencies while the egg is development en utero, less than ideal environmental conditions after the egg is laid, the position of the fetus in the egg, or the presence of a faulty gene.   Due to the extreme rarity of the condition, research into the cause of Hatched Tehnaokis is very slow.

Symptoms

Tehnaokis is defined by an inability to perceive the electromagnetic fields around the individual, resulting in an inability to navigate in open water.    Temporary tehnaokis can last for only a few minutes to several weeks, depending on the severity of the damage.   Hatched and Acquired Tehnaokis are both permanent conditions.

Treatment

Until the planet's space age, there was no treatment for tehnaokis. Individuals suffering from the condition, no matter the variant, would be unable to swim long distances on their own, often relying on the assistance of other Seadwellers, maps, or other visual aids for navigation. 
Mild cases of temporary tehnaokis are often left to heal naturally, with the patient being advised to either stay home to recuperate or, if they must travel, to travel with others.
Some early surgical procedures were developed that attempted to graft nerves from donor bodies into individuals suffering from Hatched or Acquired variants, but the results were hit-and-miss, even after the development of anti-rejection medication.
After the acquisition of tissue regeneration technology, a regular treatment for both Temporary and Acquired Tehnaokis was developed where the damaged tissue is repaired and returned to a fully functional state within minutes.

Prognosis

An individual suffering from any variant of tehnaokis has a very good prognosis.   By the time the Retikan Seadwellers joined the galactic community, cases of temporary and acquired tehnaokis were easily treated with tissue regeneration.
Individuals with Hatched Tehnaokis, however, are a bit of a different story.  Since this condition is as disabling to a Seadweller as blindness -- if not more-so -- the patient must rely on family or another caregiver to assist them with navigating beyond their home.  However, with the advent of maps and other navigational aids, individuals with Hatched Tehnaokis can live full and fulfilling lives alongside their unaffected neighbors.

Affected Groups

Any Seadweller is capable of suffering from tehnaokis.

Hosts & Carriers

This condition is not spread via hosts or carriers.

Prevention

Temporary and acquired variants of tehnaokis can be prevented by wearing protective headgear.
There is no known preventative measure for Hatched Tehanokis.

Epidemiology

This condition is not a communicable disease. However,  Hatched Tehnaokis has been noted to run in families.

Cultural Reception

Most Retikan Seadwellers treat individuals suffering from tehnaokis with compassion and care, especially the long term or permanent variations.   Due to the commonality of the temporary and acquired variants, much research went into seeking methods of protecting the tehna nerves from damage.
Since any Seadweller, at any point in life, could suffer from tehnaokis, the condition is taken seriously and accommodations for the condition are very easy to come by.

Type

Physiological

Origin

Natural

Cycle

Chronic, Acquired & Congenital

Rarity

Common

Affected Species

• Retikan Seadwellers