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Questions posted in the
Neurology and Neurosurgery Forum have been answered by doctors from The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
Question Title: Difference between right & left CVAForum: Neurology Forum
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Re: Difference between right & left CVAPosted by CCF Neuro MD *!* on December 01, 1997 at 20:00:08: In Reply to: Difference between right & left CVA posted by Patty Sorondo on November 30, 1997 at 23:44:32:
: Hi, Patricia Sorondo, SPT A full account of the differences between right and left sided strokes is far beyond the scope of this forum, and I would refer you to one of the standard neurology reference books for very detailed sources of information, good texts would include ( Neurology in Clinical Practice - Bradley and Daroff, 2nd Edition Butterworth -Heinnman 1995), (Stroke - Barnett and Mohr 2nd edition Churchill Livingstone 1992) or (Principles of Neurology - Adams, Victor and Ropper Sixth Edition McGraw-Hill 1997). In summary however the effects of a CVA ( although the older term Stroke is now used in preference to CVA )partly depend on whether the person is right or left handed. regardless of handedness the opposites side of the body is affected in middle cerebral artery stroke, the most common type. In right handed people and 50% of left handed people, speech and language function resides in the left side of the brain , a stroke on the left side therefore will cause right sided weakness and language difficulties ranging from mild problems with naming to complete inability to read, write , speak or understand spoken language. In right handed people the part of the brain supplied by the right middle cerebral artery controls movement on the left side of the body and awareness of the person’s orientation in space, awareness of the other side his/her own body and the ability to attend to stimuli in the opposite visual field. Obviously these syndromes have an impact on rehabilitation as the patient with left brain damage will have problems understanding the verbal instructions of the therapist while the person with right sided damage will have problems with awareness of his/her own body in space . This can extend to complete neglect or denial of the existence of the other side of the body, patient may complain that there is another person in bed with them, men may only shave one side of the face, only food on one side of the plate will be eaten. For this reason Right sided brain stroke are particularly difficult to rehabilitate, again I refer you to the above references for further details. This information is provided for general medical education purposes only.
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