Visuospatial deficits after right hemisphere stroke.

The influence of visuospatial deficits on functional status after right hemisphere stroke was investigated in 34 patients. Correlation coefficients between visuospatial deficits and other factors--age, sex, vocabulary, educational level, hemiparesis, hemianopia, left-sided extinction, length of stay on a rehabilitation unit, and time lapse between onset of stroke and admission to the rehabilitation unit--were also computed. Little correlation was found between the severity of the hemiparesis and the severity of the visuospatial deficits, yet both motor and visuospatial deficits proved to be important predictors of functional status at the time of discharge from the stroke rehabilitation unit. We conclude that visuospatial deficits are an important independent factor governing functional outcome and should be given as much attention as hemiparesis during discharge and rehabilitation planning for the right hemisphere stroke patient.