Non-Pharmacological Interventions for Spatial Neglect or Inattention Following Stroke and Other Non-Progressive Brain Injury
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
Longley, V., Hazelton, C., et al. (2021).
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 7, CD003586.
This systematic review investigates the effect of nonpharmacological interventions, some of which are outside of SLP scope of practice, on improved function, discharge disposition and falls reduction for adults with spatial neglect or inattention following stroke and other non‐progressive brain injury.
The Cochrane Collaboration; National Institute for Health Research (United Kingdom)
up to October 2020
Randomized controlled trials
65
Overall, there was insufficient evidence to support the use of nonpharmacological interventions to improve function in individuals with spatial neglect or inattention post stroke. The following effect sizes were noted for treatments within the scope of SLP practice : <br />
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #333333;"><strong>visual scanning treatments </strong>(e.g., computer activities, paper-pencil tasks): SMD = -0.04 across 2 studies; and</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333;"><strong>body awareness treatment</strong> (e.g., physical, verbal or visual prompting or cueing): SMD = 0.61 across 5 studies.</span></li>
</ul>
No studies examined the effects of nonpharmacological interventions on falls, balance, or improved quality of life. Further research is needed from high quality randomized controlled trials to establish potential or adverse effects of treatment for this population.
