Stroke Case Study

Stoke affects nearly 800,000 per year (CDC, 2014). The incidence of stroke affects 43% of women and 57% of men. It has a higher rate of occurrence amongst African American males (CDC, 2014). Stroke is one of the most common causes of long term disability in adults (Ching-Yi, 2013). Strokes can elicit disabilities that cause a person to have functional limitations. Some of these disabilities include unilateral neglect, which is also referred to as hemispatial neglect, special neglect and visuo-spatial neglect (Chan, 2013). Unilateral neglect is a common disorder in stroke patients, affecting 40 to 81% of patients (Arlene, 2007). Unilateral neglect is defined as “...a disorder characterized by reduced ability to perceive, respond, or orient to stimuli in the space contralateral to the brain lesion despite the absence of primary sensory or motor deficits…” (Chan, 2013, p 127). Unilateral neglect is present in 10 % to 82 % in patients following a right hemisphere stroke and 15 % to 65% in left hemisphere stroke patients, therefore, making left unilateral neglect more common. The percentages are varied because of subjection criteria, lesion site and timing and nature of assessment (Plummer, 2003).

Unilateral neglect presents in different types and dimensions. These include motor, sensory, representational and can occur in 3 forms of spatial dimensions. Motor neglect is the failure to move once a stimuli has occurred. Sensory neglect is the lack of ability to become aware of sensory stimuli on the affected side (Chan, 2013). Representational neglect is when one ignores the visual imagery of a task, action of enviroment (Plummer, 2003). Unilateral neglect can present in 3 forms of spatial dimensions which are personal, ...

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...essment of unilateral neglect during its acute stages. Since there is a variety of neglects to attend to and unilateral neglect may change its course of direction quickly a variety of intervention may be needed(Goff, 2010). Unilateral neglect studies, clinical observations, deficit testing are ways to detect neglect. To improve a person’s well being and quality of life clients, family, caregivers and health care staff should be educated and trained to improve recovery(Goff, 2010).

Arlene Future research should focus on delivering studies on higher methodological quality and and larger sample sizes. It is also important to strive for universal test battery including both neuropsychological paper and pencil tests and behavioral test aimed at evauluating iln in adls. It would also be useful to investigate long term results of the existing treatment modalities.