The Assessment and Treatment of Patients Who Have Sensory Loss Following Cortical Lesions

The assessment of tactile and proprioceptive sensory function in patients with severe sensory deficits resulting from cortical lesions is reviewed. The importance of using age-appropriate normative data to interpret the scores on these tests is discussed in the context of the frequency of ipsilateral disturbances in somesthetic sensation following unilateral cerebral lesions. Tactile and proprioceptive sensory deficits not only affect the processing of sensory information but also result in impairments in manual control. Fine-motor skills, such as those required for grasping and manipulating small objects, must therefore be evaluated in these patients. The treatment of patients with severe sensory deficits focuses on improving the perception of sensory information arising from receptors in the hand and on retraining motor function. The procedures used for sensory re-education and retraining are described.