ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the frequency of different types of visual processing problems in survivors of brain injuries. It reviews assessment and treatment strategies. The chapter focuses on Benton's classification system because it is still widely adopted in clinical settings. It distinguishes three types of disorder: visuoperceptual, visuospatial and visuoconstructive. Visuospatial disorders include poor spatial localisation and judgement of direction and distance; impaired topographical organisation; and unilateral neglect. McKenna Groh-Bordin and Kerkoff suggest that 30 per cent of stroke patients and 50 per cent of traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients have some form of visuoperceptual or visuospatial impairment. McKenna et al. similarly report heightened incidence of agnosia, unilateral neglect, distorted body schema or constructional impairment in TBI patients. The chapter explains problems a person is facing in everyday life and identity targets for rehabilitation. In clinical practice there are two main types of assessment: the first using standardised tests, the second more functional or behavioural measures.
