Is visual scanning better than mental practice in hemispatial neglect? Results from a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE

We compared visual scanning and mental practice and explored the effects of these techniques on specific hemispatial neglect tests and activities of daily living in chronic hemispatial neglect patients.

METHODS

Ten right-handed patients with hemispatial neglect caused by right hemisphere ischemic strokes were randomly allocated to 1 of 2 study groups: visual scanning (n = 5), mental practice (n = 5). Five additional patients were included in a control group. Three evaluations for hemispatial neglect and the FIM were carried out in the intervention groups: pretreatment, at the end of the intervention period, and 3 months after that intervention period. Control patients were evaluated twice within a 2-month interval.

RESULTS

There was a significant difference among the 3 groups in Behavioral Inattention Test (BIT) score changes (P = .047) and in FIM self-care item score changes (P = .035), the visual scanning protocol being responsible for these differences both in BIT (P = .008) and in FIM self-care item scores (P = .016). The positive functional effects of visual scanning were partially retained at the end of the follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONS

Visual scanning should probably be considered preferable to mental practice protocols in the treatment of hemispatial neglect patients.