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Stroke and transient ischaemic attack - Management
How should I assess a person who has a history of stroke?
- When people with a history of stroke consult (for whatever reason), be alert for problems that may require new assessment and management:
- Neurological problems — balance, movement, tone, sensation, power.
- Pain — neuropathic, shoulder pain and subluxation, musculoskeletal pain.
- Mood and social interaction problems — depression, anxiety, emotionalism, disinhibition, aggression.
- Cognitive impairments:
- Attention and concentration.
- Memory.
- Disturbances of spatial awareness — neglect.
- Disturbance of perception — visual agnosia.
- Apraxia — loss of the conceptual ability to organize activities to achieve a goal.
- Planning, organizing, initiating, and monitoring behaviour (i.e. disturbances of executive functioning).
- Speech and communication difficulties — aphasia, dysarthria, apraxia of speech.
- Visual impairments and hemianopia.
- Bladder and bowel problems — urinary incontinence, faecal incontinence, constipation.
- Swallowing and nutrition problems — oral health, malnutrition, dehydration, artificial feeding.
- Sexual dysfunction.
- Difficulties with activities of daily living — personal, social, and vocational:
In depth
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