Treating Visual Inattention in Acute Stroke Survivors Using a Therapy Scanning Wall: A Proof-of-Concept Study

BACKGROUND: Visual inattention is common following right hemisphere stroke, with up to 80% of patients being affected. Visual inattention following stroke is linked to poorer outcomes. There is no clear evidence for how visual inattention should be treated in the hospital inpatient setting. OBJECTIVE: To explore the practical implications and possible benefits of using a visual scanning wall in a stroke rehabilitation unit as an assessment and treatment tool for visual inattention. METHODS: This proof-of-concept study recruited stroke survivors with visual inattention. Participants used the scanning wall for scanning training five days a week for two weeks. Assessments using the scanning wall and modified Albert’s test were conducted at baseline and at day 14. Both participants and staff delivering the training were asked to complete an acceptability questionnaire. RESULTS: All participants demonstrated an improvement in the number of pictures identified from baseline to day 14. There was a mean improvement of 9.20 (95% CI 4.77 to 13.63) in the 14 days. This is a statistically significant improvement in the scanning wall score between baseline line and day 14 (p = 0.01). All participants and staff reported the scanning wall as acceptable to use. CONCLUSION: This proof-of-concept study has demonstrated the scanning wall could be used to assess for visual inattention in extra personal space. Also, it could be beneficial and is acceptable for the treatment of visual inattention within a hospital inpatient setting for acute stroke survivors.