Visual rehabilitation of hemianoptic head trauma patients emphasizing ambient pathways

Issue title: Neuro-optometric Rehabilitation

Guest editors: William PadulaGuest Editor

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Streff, John W.^{; *}

Affiliations: 1516 West Fair Avenue, Lancaster, OH 43130-0426, USA

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author, Tel.: + 1 6146876333.

Abstract: When an individual experiences a head injury, trauma shatters the patient's environment as well as affecting her/his body and physiology. Visual neuro-motor functions serve as a major link between self control and the perception of the environment. Information about the visual neurological pathways and their specialized functions serve to guide visual rehabilitative therapy. The visual system proves to be a useful avenue to help the head trauma patient interact with her/his environment and more competently deal with her/his world. An individual's ability to regain stability and improved environmental perception are positively influenced by the development of visual neuro-motor control. Two patients' case summaries illustrate rehabilitation success for patients who manifest field deficit or hemianopsia.

Keywords: Rehabilitation, Head trauma, Visual-motor, Ambient vision, Focal vision, Blind-sight, Hemianopsia, Visualization

DOI: 10.3233/NRE-1996-6303

Journal: NeuroRehabilitation, vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 173-181, 1996