Is Visual Scanning Better Than Mental Practice in Hemispatial Neglect? Results from a Pilot Study

Objective: We compared visual scanning and mental practice and explored the effects of these techniques on specific hemispatial neglect tests and activities of daily living in chronic hemispatial neglect patients. Methods: Ten right-handed patients with hemispatial neglect caused by right hemisphere ischemic strokes were randomly allocated to 1 of 2 study groups: visual scanning (n = 5), mental practice (n = 5). Five additional patients were included in a control group. Three evaluations for hemispatial neglect and the FIM were carried out in the intervention groups: pretreatment, at the end of the intervention period, and 3 months after that intervention period. Control patients were evaluated twice within a 2-month interval. Results: There was a significant difference among the 3 groups in Behavioral Inattention Test (BIT) score changes (P=.047) and in FIM self-care item score changes (P=.035), the visual scanning protocol being responsible for these differences both in BIT (P=.008) and in FIM self-care item scores (P=.016). The positive functional effects of visual scanning were partially retained at the end of the follow-up period. Conclusions: Visual scanning should probably be considered preferable to mental practice protocols in the treatment of hemispatial neglect patients.