UNDERSTANDING UNILATERAL VISUAL NEGLECT

After researching different types of visual neglect, I chose to further address unilateral visual neglect, which is also known as unilateral visual inattention, hemispatial neglect, spatial neglect, hemi-inattention, neglect syndrome, hemiagnosia, and hemineglect. This neuropsychological condition is the inability to successfully or accurately process and perceive stimuli that occurs to one side of the body or within one’s surrounding environment. Lack of proper procession and perception is also not due to missing levels of physical sensation that occur on the body. These levels of sensation are normal but they may not be acknowledged or felt by the individual due to damage that occurs to the right or left hemisphere of the brain (Anderson. 2010). 

Even though this condition can occur from damage to either hemisphere, it appears to be most common after damage to the right hemisphere. According to (Anderson. 2010), “patients with damage to the right hemisphere completely ignore the left side of the visual field, and patients with damage to the left hemisphere ignore the right side of the field” (p. 77). When this occurs it can also cause several problems and/or limitations within the patient’s daily life. Some of these include:

1. Exhibiting Odd or Peculiarly Behavior - Three examples are shaving only one side of the face, brushing teeth on only one side of the mouth, or not feeling a bug bite on the affected side of their face.

2. Lack of Memory Skills - When damage occurs to the right hemisphere, patients may experience a lack in normal long-term memory skills. This can be very troublesome because they will need to continuously learn the same concepts or skills over and over but never really be able to develop the cognitive ability of long-term memory storage. This can also cause several limitations with what these patients are able to accomplish in all facets of life because they won’t be able to remember what skills they possess or what tasks need to be completed. Therefore, several of these patients won't be able to acquire an education or be employed and will require help from others to meet their daily needs.

3. Lack of Language Skills - When damage occurs to the left hemisphere, patients might experience a lack in normal language development skills. This can cause the individual to speak with a slurred vocabulary or pronounce words that are completely incomprehensible by others. If they cannot speak fluently enough to be understood, then many may also not be able to meet their basic daily needs due to a lack in proper communication.

4. Other Negative Affects - Since, this condition can affect memory and language, these individuals may also slowly become isolated from or singled out by "normal" society. If this neglect is sufficient, it may cause these individuals to become frustrated and lonely. If they experience loneliness and/or isolation over an extended period of time, then they may eventually acquire disorders like severe anxiety and depression. Some patients have also committed suicide due to symptoms of the impairment and/or social rejection. Therefore, early intervention, individualized treatment, and ongoing support will be imperative to properly assist these individuals in meeting their daily needs. 

Reference:

Anderson, R. J. (2010). Cognitive psychology and its implications (7th Edition). Worth Publishers. New York, NY.