The natural history of visual neglect after stroke. Indications from two methods of assessment.
A simple copying task and a measure of position preference on a multiple-choice test were used to assess the incidence of visual neglect after stroke. The patients studied were drawn from a register of strokes occurring in a typical health district. These tests detected visual neglect in 8-11% of patients 3 weeks after stroke and it was more frequent after right-sided rather than left-sided brain damage. Significant neglect was rarely observed by 6 months after stroke but further recovery did occur between 6 months and 1 year. Neglect appeared to exert a slowing influence on rehabilitation and we propose that training procedures to combat neglect should be evaluated for routine use in rehabilitation centres.
Sunderland
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A
Stroke Unit, Frenchay Hospital, Bristol, Great Britain.
Wade
D T
DT
Langton Hewer
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R
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D006423:Hemianopsia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*