More than half of stroke survivors do not receive rehabilitation after the first days of advanced stroke care. Instead of living for months or years with visible or hidden disabilities, stroke survivors can take advantage of new techniques of advanced rehabilitation to improve their function and freedom.
One condition, called spatial neglect– in which a person’s three-dimensional reality and spatial movements are distorted on one side – is particularly underdiagnosed and undertreated among those who have suffered strokes and other brain injuries.
The Conversation asked neurologist A.M. Barrett and optometrist Kevin Houston, both from UMass Chan Medical School, to explain what causes spatial neglect and how to recognize it.
What is Spatial Neglect?
Some stroke survivors struggle when navigating the world around them. They walk, sit or stand in a tilted or unbalanced way. Even looking to the side may be challenging. This condition, known as spatial neglect, is a common occurrence after a brain injury.
