[Unilateral spatial and motor neglect in children].
Although unilateral spatial neglect is well documented in adults after a cerebral damage, the description in children is rare and no motor neglect has yet been reported. We report four children age range from three to thirteen years old, in patients in a rehabilitation department. A cancellation task "the Teddy bear test" was used to assess spatial neglect in children. The children were presented a page containing line drawings of usual objects, including fifteen Teddy bears. The children were asked to cross out each Teddy bear. These four children omitted five to eleven teddy bears located on the left space, whereas children of the controlled group never omitted more than one Teddy bear. The four children also exhibited neglect in drawings, and during daily life activities. Moreover, one of them had a motor neglect with no more defects of strength and an under-utilization of his left side. Spatial unilateral neglect and motor neglect should be systematically investigated in children after a cerebral damage, and should be considered during rehabilitation.
Laurent-Vannier
A
A
Service de rééducation des pathologies neurologiques acquises de l'enfant, Hôpital National de Saint Maurice, Cedex, France.
Pradat-Diehl
P
P
Chevignard
M
M
Abada
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003397:Craniopharyngioma / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D020300:Intracranial Hemorrhages / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D010468:Perceptual Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*