Encouraging Awareness of the Involved Side

Many stroke survivors have difficulty turning their head toward the involved side. Several factors such as visual field, sensory or cognitive-perceptual deficits may contribute to this disregard.

	Therapists can encourage awareness by gently turning the head toward the involved side. However this approach does not have a lasting effect.
	Here’s another more effective method. Choose a task that is interesting and motivating to the patient. Place all objects on the involved side.
	Incorporate the involved hand into the activity by placing your hand over the weak hand. Then ‘guide’ their hand through the task.
	An interesting ‘hand-eye’ phenomenon occurs during ‘guiding’: the eyes will follow the hand. I have found this method to be highly effective in training patients to compensate for visual field deficits.

For more treatment ideas in the hospital setting,
see Functional Treatment Ideas and Strategies in Adult Hemiplegia.

This is an exciting year as International Clinical Educators celebrates its 25th year of providing continuing education to PTs, OTs, PTAs and OTAs!

And, for the first time, therapists will be able to earn CEUs online!

I am currently creating a series of online modules that will combine treatment ideas with evidence-based practice.

Send me an email if you have content suggestions. Stay tuned!

Spring 2008 Workshops!
I’ll be teaching 2-day workshops in St. Louis, Cincinnati and Detroit.

Enrollment is limited. Register online or call toll free (888) 665-6556.

I have received some great feedback from recent workshop participants who have tried the new treatment ideas they had learned. Thank you so much for taking the time to send me your feedback!

International Clinical Educators, inc.