Prabhjot Kaur Gambhir* and Anuradha V Pai
Background: Evaluation and treatment of perceptual dysfunction have traditionally been emphasized by occupational therapists working with adults with brain injury. Visual perceptual problems have been well documented as they have an impact on activities such as driving and reading. Limited information is available on the effectiveness of treatment.
Objective: To study the effect of visual perceptual training combined with left hand somatosensory stimulation on reading skills in individuals with acquired right brain damage
Methods: 10 subjects with acquired right brain damage were included in the study based on selection criteria. They underwent a comprehensive occupational therapy program of visual perceptual training emphasizing on reading- related tasks and left hand somatosensory stimulation for 6 weeks. Baseline, post intervention and followup assessments were done using Test of Visual Perceptual Skills-3 (TVPS-3), Letter Cancellation Test, and Reading Ability Screening Test (RAST).
Results: The program had a significant effect on reading skills with retention on follow-up as shown by RAST (p<0.05). However, there was no significant improvement on TVPS-3 post intervention indicating a lack of generalization to skills other than reading.
Conclusion: Visual perceptual training and left hand somatosensory stimulation may be effective in remediation of reading related perceptual deficits in individuals with acquired right brain damage.
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